The Prime Minister saw the injured in Paralympic Hospital, visited Bridge Building and Disaster Management Department in Mahakhali.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the country-wide destructive violence is being carried out to turn Bangladesh into a beggar’s country again through a conspiracy to completely cripple the country’s economy. Referring to the BNP-Jamaat and Shibir violence centered around the quota reform movement, Sheikh Hasina said that everyone should be careful so that no one can cause any destruction in this way.
The Prime Minister said this in an emotional voice after visiting the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NETOR) popularly known as Pangu Hospital in Sherebangla Nagar on Saturday morning to see the injured in the terrorist attack during the quota reform movement. Later, the Prime Minister also visited Setu Bhavan and Disaster Management Department located in Mahakhali, which was heavily affected during the nationwide riots.
The Prime Minister said that this conspiracy is to cripple Bangladesh economically. The people of the country must judge this violence. So many people were killed because of the ‘complete shutdown’ of the quota activists. In this way, everyone should be careful so that no one else can wreak havoc.
The Prime Minister said, I will and am doing whatever it takes to treat the injured. His government will take measures to add artificial limbs to those who have lost their limbs. So that they can walk like healthy people again. can work on their own.
He said, we will do our best, but I want justice from the countrymen. What was the crime? I want everyone’s cooperation so that no one can carry out this kind of destruction in this country.
Sheikh Hasina spoke to some of the critically injured under treatment at Pangu Hospital and inquired about their treatment. Nito Director Prof. Dr. Kazi Shamim Uzzaman informed the Prime Minister about the treatment of the injured. At this time, the Prime Minister ordered the hospital authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure proper treatment of the injured.
The Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Samanta Lal Sen, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Rokeya Sultana, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. Tofazzal Hossain Mia, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary. Naemul Islam Khan and others were present.
Sheikh Hasina said, I do not understand why their shutdown is not ending even after accepting all the demands. He said that in 2001 BNP-Jamaat also carried out such riots. About 21 thousand activists of Awami League were killed. How many people have been shot, limbs amputated, eyes removed, torture and brutal torture of women.
Prime Minister said, again in 2013, 14 and 15 arson. Setting fire all around, killing people by burning cars. Again in 2023, he was beaten to death by the police. Killing activists and hanging them on trees, repeatedly targeting the police – I don’t know any kind of politics.
He sought forgiveness for the souls of the victims.
Sheikh Hasina said, where I am working to change people’s fate, I have improved people’s quality of life. Bangladesh in 2008 and today in 2024 is not the same. The armed cadres of BNP-Jamaat conspired to turn Bangladesh into a nation of beggars by crippling the economy that had risen to such a high level. This seems to be the conspiracy behind it. He expressed regret and said that the institutions which provide services to the people are more violent. How short a time people could reach their destination and return by riding the Metrorail. Hospitals where people received treatment during the course of Covid-19 were also set on fire.
The Prime Minister said, I don’t want any other mother to be empty. I don’t want any more people to be harmed, and the countrymen to become helpless like this. I have lost all my parents. I know how hard it is to lose. The daughter of the father of the nation said in a breathless voice, recalling the memory of returning to the country leaving behind her small children, “I have done so much for my children.” They have educated themselves by working. But I did it for the people of Bengal. Today, at least I was providing food, clothes, medical care and work arrangements for the people of Bengal. When we got the status of a developing country, this rampage happened again. The Prime Minister said, what is the crime of improving people’s quality of life? He threw that question to the countrymen.
Visiting the Disaster Management Department and Setu Bhaban: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was shocked to see its various damaged parts with tearful eyes after entering the Setu Bhaban in Mohakhali on Saturday morning. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and other concerned persons were present at this time.
On July 18, hundreds of miscreants entered the bridge building, vandalized it and set it on fire. They looted government property from buildings. The miscreants vandalized many vehicles and motorbikes, ransacked various sheds and rooms and set them on fire. Besides, they mercilessly beat up many employees of Setu Bhavan. The Prime Minister later visited the Disaster Management Department in Mohakhali and toured various parts of the affected facilities which were affected by the July 18 terror attack. The Chief Minister also inspected the demolition of the toll plaza of the elevated expressway.
Prime Minister seeks Japan’s cooperation to reopen damaged metro rail stations: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought cooperation from Japan to reopen two damaged metro rail stations in Mirpur-10 and Kazipara. On Saturday, Japanese Ambassador Aiwama Kiminori paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at his office and sought this assistance. After the meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Mohammad Naemul Islam Khan briefed the journalists.
The Japanese ambassador said they will first assess the damage to the metro rail stations. They will then decide how they can help Bangladesh reopen the stations. He condoled the loss of lives in the widespread violence across the country centered around the quota reform movement.
The ambassador said his country’s businessmen are looking forward to the upcoming EPA talks on the Public Private Economic Dialogue to be held in Tokyo in the second half of August. He expressed hope that the law and order situation will be normalized before the dialogue. This, he said, would help the dialogue to be held successfully.
Ambassador Kiminori said that the attack on the metro rail was carried out by a handful of people and a large number of people benefited from it. He said he had seen the damage to the Metrorail stations, which caused him great distress.
Advisor to the Prime Minister Salman Fazlur Rahman and Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, Chief Secretary M Tofazzal Hossain Mia and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Masud Bin Momen were present in the meeting.