Dhaka, July 24 (UNB) – Stating that those who are against the construction of Padma Bridge are spreading the rumour of child sacrifice, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said ruling party leaders and activists have been asked to resist the incidents of mob beating.
“Those who had earlier said the government wouldn’t be able to construct the Padma Bridge and those who don’t want its construction spread the rumour that children are needed to be sacrificed for the bridge, triggering child-abduction panic among people,” he said.
Talking to reporters at the Secretariat, the minister said their party general secretary Obaidul Quader discussed the matter with its leaders and activists on Tuesday at their party office. “We’ve requested our party leaders and activists to put up a resistance against those creating panic and taking the law into their own hands.”
Hasan, also Awami League’s spokesperson and its publicity affairs secretary, called upon his party colleagues to be vocal and active against mass beating over child-abduction rumours.
So far, eight people, including women, have been beaten to death across the country over the rumours of child abduction. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday said those who are responsible for the killings will be made accused in murder cases.
The minister said those involved in the killing of innocent people through mob beating will face stern legal action. “The killing of so many people or attacks over rumours of child lifting is very unbecoming and unlawful.”
He said law enforcers have already arrested 44 people in this connection. “We’ve also come to know the political identities of many of them. I’m not disclosing that for the sake of investigation.”
Besides, Hasan said, the government is taking necessary steps to prevent rumour spreading by the vested quarter while the Information and Home Ministries are working to make people aware of that.
He called upon people not to pay heed to any rumour of child lifting as no such incident has so far found correct.
As his attention was drawn to the conflict in Jatiya Party over its leadership, Hasan said it is the internal matter of the opposition party. “We’re observing it, but I don’t want to say anything about it.”
About the ninth wage board, he said the Cabinet committee will hold a meeting on it on Thursday. “After the final decision on the wage board, it will be submitted to the Cabinet.”
