Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday sought “speedy” and “harsh” punishments of arsonists and their backers as her Government tries to quell the political violence that has claimed over 100 lives.
Speaking at a discussion with the law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs minister, Hasina drew attention to the violence marking the shutdowns and blockades being enforced by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led Opposition and said that people must be saved from the prevailing anarchy.
The PM’s strong comments came just a day after Opposition announced a fresh 72-hour nationwide shutdown to intensify pressure on the Government to hold fresh elections.
“There should be speedy punishment of those caught red-handed... Those involved (such as) those instigating the incidents, those who are funding them, those who are making the bombs and supplying them. “In every stage, there should be harsh punishment because this situation cannot continue,” Hasina was quoted as saying by the Bdnews24.