Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday that people should bring those responsible for the destruction of government establishments to justice as she visited the vandalised Mirpur-10 metro rail station.
鈥楾he people of the country have to expose them (culprits involved in nationwide mayhem) and bring them to justice. I have no words to describe the scale of destruction,鈥� she said.
She also called upon the countrymen to resist those who went on a rampage for multiple days since July 17 and heavily damaged government establishments built in the past 15 years to ease public life and transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country.
The prime minister said her government built the metro rail from Uttara to Motijheel with modern equipment as around 2.5 lakh people used it daily.
She also said every official involved in the metro rail construction, now had tears in their eyes after seeing the destruction.
鈥榃ho are the beneficiaries of the metro rail?鈥� the premier questioned.
鈥楧o my government officials, ministers and I only ride the metro rail or the people? Who is getting its benefits? The common people of the country are getting its benefits. So, my question is why such anger on the metro rail,鈥� she said.
She continued that she didn鈥檛 know when the metro rail station would become operational again.
The premier reminded the people that the government completed the construction of the metro rail before the scheduled time after overcoming many hurdles.
The metro rail services have been suspended since July 18 amid widespread destruction by the BNP-Jamaat alliance.
The metro rail will start its operation following the submission of the assessment report on the damages by the inquiry committee within 10 working days after its formation on July 22.
Sheikh Hasina said her government established a well-connected communication system across the country by building communication infrastructures like the metro rail.
Referring to the damaged metro rail stations, the premier said the people of the country, particularly Dhaka鈥檚 inhabitants, would have to suffer for it as they would have to be caught in traffic jams for hours.
鈥楽o, I call upon you to resist those who have created the sufferings for you (through the destruction of the metro rail). The people have to prevent them,鈥� she continued.
Metro rail stations in Mirpur-10 and Kaziapa were vandalised on Friday during the quota reform movement.
鈥榃ho are the worst sufferers of the destruction of the metro rail? I do not know how long it would take to restore this metro rail and the vandalised stations,鈥� she said in an emotion-charged voice.
Sheikh Hasina said they have built all establishments in the past 15 years to give the countrymen an improved life with better connectivity.
鈥榃hat mentality works behind such destruction of the establishments,鈥� she questioned.
The prime minister said she considered the people of Bangladesh as her near and dear ones and worked tirelessly for the development of the country from that philosophy.
She said that in the past 15 years, she has done everything for the welfare and happiness of the people.
鈥業 have ensured food security, power, medical care, education and communication. Who are the beneficiaries of these developments?鈥� she questioned.
Bangladesh has got the status of a developing nation for the efforts of her government from 2009 to 2024 for which Bangladeshis are now moving around keeping their heads high.
The prime minister said, 鈥楧on鈥檛 think that all the developments have taken place in a day.鈥�
Those who have got the benefit of the metro rail and other government establishments would have to resist the attackers, she reiterated.
鈥業 am working tirelessly to upgrade the living standard of the people and I have done this and no one can deny that,鈥� she said.
When the country is marching ahead to reach the top stage, the conspirators are trying to pull the country down, she added.
鈥榃hy? That is my question and I don鈥檛 know who will give the answer,鈥� she said.
About the quota reform movement, the prime minister said she felt pain over the issue as she earlier cancelled the quota in the government jobs as the students agitated against it in 2018.
The freedom fighters鈥� families appealed against it and it was cancelled by the High Court.
鈥榃e filed an appeal against that. They (Supreme Court) issued a status-quo over the High Court order and gave time to give a decision after hearing everyone (involved in the process),鈥� she said.
She said she also repeatedly requested the agitating students to have patience and keep faith in the apex court and their expectation will be fulfilled.
鈥業 called upon them to refrain from it (the quota reform movement). But, they did not do that,鈥� she said.