The government on Wednesday announced to provide Tk 1 lakh as bounty if anyone can help arrest anarchists carrying out arson attacks and subversive acts during the transport blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu came up with the announcement after a meeting of the cabinet committee on law and order at the Home Ministry.
“A Tk 1 lakh bounty will be given if anyone can help catch anarchists red-handed. We’ve taken the decision considering the country’s current law and order situation and to prevent the heinous activities of anarchists,” Amu told a press briefing after the cabinet committee meeting.Besides, order has been issued to make the law and order committees at the district and upazila levels more active to contain violence and tackle the prevailing situation.
Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Upazila Nirbahi Officers will work as coordinators for implementing the government instructions in their respective areas involving the local public representatives and common people, he said.
Amu also said some 7,015 people were arrested across the country during the last 15 days and the law and order situation has improved over the last two or three days.
“Khaleda Zia denied that her party men were involved in any subversive activities but most of the arrestees were BNP activists. She is trying to hide the truth,“ he said.
“They are not involved in any political activities….they’ve been carrying out subversive acts as they have lost people’s confidence. They’ve been trying to go to power by killing innocent people, but it won’t be tolerated,” the minister said.
In Dhaka city, 125 BNP activists, 27 Jamaat-Shibir men were arrested in the last few days, he added. Amu claimed that vehicular movement on highways is also improving.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan, Labour and Employment Mujibul Haq Chunnu, Inspector General of Police, chiefs of BGB, Rab, NSI and Coast Guard were also present. – UNB
