Photo: Collected
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that Jamaat-Shibir and BNP have used students agitating for quota reform in government jobs as a shield to perpetuate their reign of terror.
He said this when Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro went to meet the Prime Minister at Ganobhaban, his official residence.
After the meeting, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Noor Elahi Mina briefed the journalists.
The deputy press secretary said that Sheikh Hasina said that Jamaat-Shibir and BNP are used to killing people through arson and that she visited various hospitals to see the injured under treatment.
Pointing out that ‘we are providing equal medical facilities to all’, he said that everything including economic activities in the country is slowly going towards normal. As the entire country has come under digitalisation, it is taking some time to resume the expressway and metro rail services at the vandalized toll plazas.
The Italian ambassador said that the attackers targeted the symbols of Bangladesh’s modernization. He expressed grief over the destruction of people’s property and loss of life.
The ambassador also expressed hope that destruction of assets or justice and accountability would be ensured in the entire matter.
The ambassador praised Bangladesh for its steps and success in fighting terrorism after the attack on Holly Artizan, and said that the government’s anti-terrorism program will move forward by establishing justice for this recent incident. The way the Prime Minister handled the recent violence, the Italian ambassador also praised it.
The ambassador said that Bangladesh and Italy have historically had excellent friendly relations. About two lakh expatriate Bangladeshis are bridging these ties and contributing to the economies of both countries.
The ambassador also said that he will work to further the excellent relations between the two countries. He also expressed his conviction to advance legal immigration, citing the energy, SME, space technology and shipbuilding sectors as the focus of his work.
The ambassador of Italy expressed his country’s keen interest in training the Bangladesh police and said that the Italian police have enough experience in the event of a protest or a crackdown situation. The Italian police have learned this step by step since World War II. They want to train Bangladesh Police in this regard.
The Prime Minister congratulated the proposal and said that further discussions will continue in the coming days.
At this time, Prime Minister’s private industry and investment advisor Salman F. Rahman, Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and Chief Secretary Md. Tofazzal Hossain Mia was present.