Khaleda asks people to resist bombers unitedly
Opposition urged to return parliament to resolve problems

AGENCIES, PATUAKHALI

Nov 29: Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia today sounded a note of warning against the bomb attackers, urging the people to unitedly resist those who are killing people in the name of Islam.

Addressing a huge public meeting at Patuakhali District Sports Association (PDSA) ground, Begum Zia said the nation must be united against the perpetrators of bomb attacks, labelling them as enemies of Islam, humanity, democracy, development and the country.

The Prime Minister reiterated her call to the main opposition to return to Jatiya Sangsad and also to sit across the table to discuss their proposal for reforms in the electoral process, shunning the path of terrorism.

Begum Zia said a particular quarter is hatching conspiracy against the country at a time when Bangladesh is progressing and development taking place in the country. She said an organisation named Jama'atul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB), which was banned earlier, is killing people in the name of Islam. The government has already taken stringent measures against the members of JMB, she said asserting that more sterner actions would be taken to deal with them.

Begum Zia urged the people to remain alert against the JMB and the bomb attackers and to help round up the bombers. She said that those who would help catch the bomb attackers would be awarded.

Referring to the bomb explosions at Gazipur and Chittagong courts, she said these elements are "enemies" of the humanity, nation, Islam and democracy. She mentioned that her government has banned the Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMP) for their terrorist activities and killings. "They are culprits, terrorists and murderers. They cannot go to heaven by killing man," she told her audience in the southern coastal district amidst strong response and urged the people to help them arrest. She said those who would help their arrest would be rewarded.

The Prime Minister said those who have been arrested in connection with the bomb blasts would be given tough punishment under the law of the land.

She also urged the people to stand united against these extremists and advised the house owners not to rent out houses to strangers.

In what sounded like a public warrant the PM said, "Inform the law-enforcers whenever you see anyone unknown in your locality."

Bringing allegation of conspiracy against the country and democracy, Khaleda said Bangladesh cannot be rendered a dysfunctional State and democracy cannot be destroyed through plotting. "We'll crush them; they are enemies of humanity," an irate Begum Zia told the rally in the wake recurrent strike by the bombers.