Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) today (November 06, 2023) announced a Tk 20,000 reward for those who will help them nab arsonists with information amid nationwide arson attacks. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman said this during a meeting with Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners’ Association at the DMP headquarters. Read more: IGP promises strict action against subversives, arsonists While talking about the recent arson attacks, he said, “If anyone can help police catch the miscreants with evidence, they will be given Tk 20,000 reward.” The move was taken amid the ongoing subversive acts of arson in Dhaka.Read more: 18 arson incidents reported in 30 hrs till this morning: Fire Service

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said that those who were involved in the killings of hundreds of Bangladesh Air Force members through illegal court martial in 1977 are getting punishment for their crimes. Punishment is also being meted out to the perpetrators of arson violence and terrorism carried out in the name of movement launched by BNP and Jamaat during 2013-15, she said. “Those who were involved in injustice got punishment, getting punishment and will get punishment,” she said at an event at her official residence Ganobhavan. The prime minister was talking to the family members of Bangladesh Air Force personnel who had been sentenced to death through illegal court martial in 1977 during the regime of then military ruler General Ziaur Rahman. Also Read: 2002 attack on Hasina's motorcade: 4 get life imprisonment, 44 others 7 years’ jail Victims and relatives of arson terrorism by BNP-Jamaat nexus in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were also present there. Hasina said that she is empathetic to the family members of the victims as she and her younger sister lost father, mother, brothers, sister-in-laws and other family members in a day on August 15 in 1975 when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated. She said Bangabandhu endured life-long sufferings for Bangladesh and its people. “My only aim is to ensure that people of this country remain in good shape,” she said. She regretted that arson terrorism and fire incidents at market places are taking place causing immense miseries to the innocent people at a time the country is moving towards economic prosperity. “Those who are doing this are incurring hatred of the whole nation. I think that Allah will also not tolerate this,” she said. She said that BNP-Jamaat’s activities had been as barbaric as was done by Pakistani military.  “Ziaur Rahman used to write the verdict of capital punishment while smiling,” she said. She said that after that Zia’s wife and then their sons resorted to arson terrorism as they do not want any good for the country and its people. She mentioned that she can understand the pain of the family members and relatives of the victims. “I am always beside you, I share your pain,” she said. Nurunnahar Begum, wife of victim Sargent Delwar Hossain, and Maksuda Parvin, daughter of Sargent Morshedul Alam, also spoke at the programme. A heart-rending situation prevailed while the relatives spoke. A visibly moved PM consoled them with motherly affection. Victim of arson terrorism Sub Inspector Moqbul Hossain and Mohammad Salauddin Bhuiyan expressed their feelings in the programme. Two separate documentaries on these subjects were also screened at the programme. The prime minister presented Eid gifts to the victims and relatives.    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the people not to allow the arson terrorists and anti-liberation forces to return to power. "The arson terrorists should not be allowed to come in power in the country anymore. The anti-liberation elements should not be allowed to come to office," she said. The PM was addressing a joint meeting of Awami League and its associate bodies at the AL central office in the city's Bangabandhu Avenue through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban. Read more: 50 sued over torching, vandalizing vehicles in Ctg Hasina, also the AL president, asked her party leaders to remain alert in every area so that they (BNP-Jamaat) cannot torture anyone. Bitterly criticising BNP, she said that it does not suit BNP to talk about democracy as Ziaur Rahman had given curfew-democracy while Khaleda Zia gave a system of corruption in the country. "We should not forget that Khaleda Zia has two virtues (skills) -- corruption and killing people," said Hasina. Read more: Police kept the bombs in BNP office: Fakhrul She said her government has transformed the country into a digital Bangladesh, but they (BNP-Jamaat) are carrying out propaganda against the government using the digital platforms. Hasina said they would execute the sentences of convicted Tarique Rahman, bringing him back from the United Kingdom. The PM asked her party men to remain alert so that the BNp and Jamaat cannot harm even a single person. The hand with which they come to set vehicles on fire will have to be burnt with the same fire, she said, adding that it is not the time to get tortured anymore. Noting that AL men were tortured for 21 years from 1975 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2008, She said that the hand with which they come to hit will have to be broken. “The hand with which they come to set people on fire will have to be brunt with the same fire. It will have to make them feel about the pain of burn injuries,” she said. She directed the AL men to depict the pictures of how the BNP-Jamaat had tortured the people.