State Minister Mir Shahe Alam has said former prime minister Sheikh Hasina will face trial under the crimes against humanity law enacted by the previous government.
He also said fascism would be brought to justice under the law, assuring that justice for the killings during July and August would be delivered in Bangladesh.
He made the remarks on Thursday as the chief guest at the installation ceremony of the Bogura Television Reporters Unit at Hotel Mom Inn in Bogura.
Speaking at the event, urged media workers not to publish misleading reports based on rumours about the possible return of politically banned organisations and fugitive individuals to the country.
Referring to reports about passports being issued and individuals returning, he pointed to Article 47(A) of the Crimes Against Humanity Act, saying the law clearly states that anyone accused of crimes against humanity will not enjoy the facilities available to ordinary citizens.
He said the Awami League had enacted the law itself and had curtailed its own rights in the process, adding that the party had now fallen into the trap of that legislation. He also said both the treasury bench and the opposition in parliament were united against fascism.
Outlining plans for the local government system under his ministry, the state minister said work was under way, at the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, to reintroduce the self-reliant Gram Sarkar system alongside the existing five tiers of local government.
He recalled that then former president Ziaur Rahman first introduced Gram Sarkar in 1976, while the Self-Reliant Gram Sarkar Act was enacted in 2003 during the tenure of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The law was repealed in 2009.
Mir Shahe Alam expressed hope that the reintroduction of the system would allow minor disputes in villages to be settled locally.
On the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections, he said the Election Commission had announced plans to hold elections to around 5,000 union parishads across the country in five possible phases.
The schedule for the first phase could be announced on 10 December, with voting scheduled for 21 January. The second phase could be held on 4 or 6 February, he said.
The remaining phases are expected to be completed by 27 April and in May, after Ramadan, Eid and public examinations. He sought media workers’ co-operation in ensuring that the elections were free, fair and impartial.
Praising the unity of Bogura Press Club, the state minister said that while several press clubs existed in other districts, journalists in Bogura remained united under the leadership of senior colleagues.
He also urged media workers to use the term ‘Uttaranchal’ (northern region) instead of ‘North Bengal’.
Recalling the contributions of distinguished journalists, he announced grants of Tk50,000 each from his discretionary fund for the families of 13 living and deceased award-winning journalists. He also pledged Tk1 lakh to establish a medical fund for the Bogura Television Reporters Unit.
Speaking as the chief speaker, Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had agreed to establish a journalism department at Bogura University, considering the district’s long tradition of journalism.
He said State Minister Mir Shahe Alam had been assigned responsibility for implementing the decision and urged everyone to unite behind the prime minister to accelerate Bogura’s development.
The ceremony was presided over by Bogura Television Reporters Unit President Mohan Akhand.
Special guests included Bogura City Corporation Administrator MR Islam Swadhin; Bogura Zila Parishad Administrator AKM Ahsanul Taiyab Zakir; Bogura Deputy Commissioner Md Towfiqur Rahman; BSS board member Mozammel Haque Lalu; TMSS Executive Director Prof Hosne Ara Begum; Additional Superintendent of Police Md Asaduzzaman; and Bogura Press Club General Secretary Kalam Azad.
A total of 14 journalists were honoured for their contributions to journalism, including eight posthumous awards and six lifetime achievement awards.
