Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that a vested group is trying to stigmatize students’ movement.
“A group with vested interest is out to create chaos and stigmatise the students capitalising their movements for safe road ....It is evident from the Monday night’s incident,” he told while exchanging views with newsmen at his Secretariat office on Wednesday.
The minister greeted the journalists at the beginning of the month of victory and on the golden jubilee of the country's independence.
Mentioning that students are staging agitation demanding half fare and safe road, the minister said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed all concerned to implement the half fare for students in BRTC buses”.
“Apart from this, the Dhaka Bus Owners Association has also declared that they will implement the half fare for students from today (Wednesday). I also hope that the bus owners of other cities including Chattogram will take the same decision,” he added.
But, a student was killed in a tragic road accident on Monday night, he said, praying salvation of the departed soul.
He said, according to the witnesses, the accident took place around 10:45 pm on that night and 'Nirapad Sarak Chai', a facebook page, went on live at 10:57 pm and the news was aired at 'Telegram' channel, run by Jamaat at 11 pm. And the news was spread over all social platforms from the channel, he added.
He said, "Now it is a question that how the facebook page 'Nirapad Sarak Chai' reached the spot only after 12 minutes of the accident and aired live telecast and how Basher Killa, a facebook page of Jamaat, knew the incident only after 15 minutes? And how they torched 10 to 12 vehicles within 15 minutes?”
The minister said, “The students didn't torch the vehicles as they didn't reach the spot within 10 to 15 minutes. It is now a question that where the persons, who liked the facebook page that informed about the incident?”
The minister urged all countrymen to remain alert against them. He said a case was filed and investigation is going on.
Legal actions would be taken against the culprits who were involved in the incident, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
Replying to a query over Union Parishad polls, he said AL candidates have passed in the most UP polls and the rebel candidates are in the second position. BNP is also taking part in the election tactically without party symbol and Jatiya Party is also taking in the polls, he added.
About the treatment of BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia, the minister said the Premier has shown her unprecedented generosity by extending Begum Khaleda Zia's release from jail.
He said Begum Zia is now undergoing treatment by his preferred doctors and hospital. Besides, the demand of sending Begum Zia abroad is political, not health related, he added.
