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Information and broadcasting adviser Mahfuj Alam on Sunday said that the interim government had decided that from now on it would get tough with all kinds of mob attacks in the country.

‘Regardless of who engage in mob justice, they will be brought to book, as per the decision made at a meeting on Sunday,’ he said.

Mahfuj made the statements at a press conference at the secretariat in the capital Dhaka following a meeting on law and order situation amid a recent spate of mob attacks, rape and violence against women across the country.

He said, ‘We want to inform the people that wherever a mob justice situation arises, regardless of who the perpetrators are and irrespective of their religion, gender, race, or nationality, we will take a strong stance on those from now on.’

‘If a situation arises where mob justice is created, or if there is any unrest such as a police station being surrounded or any kind of anarchy, we will now take a very strong stance on those,’ he said.

He said, ‘If any mob incident arises in the future, we will continue to act strictly as per law. Whether it’s theft, land grabbing, or any other criminal activities, we will now adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards addressing all kinds of unrests, disorder and lawlessness.’

Speaking at the briefing, law adviser Asif Nazrul said, ‘Today’s meeting focused solely on law and order. We are all disturbed, just like you, and have decided that we even need to be tougher.’

He also said, ‘The time has come for us to act decisively. Any form of mob justice will be dealt with firmly and ruthlessly.’

Addressing the press briefing, home adviser retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that the government would follow a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to any kinds of violence against women.

He said, ‘There will be no place for rapists in Bangladesh. All those accused in the Magura incident have already been arrested and the government will work to ensure their maximum punishment through legal process.’

‘If any incident of violence or rape against women occurs anywhere in the country, culprits will be brought to book. Zero tolerance is the government’s stance on rape in Bangladesh,’ he said.

Referring to Friday’s procession by banned organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir in the capital, he said that the procession was dispersed by police and some of the members of the banned organisation were arrested.

The government has adopted a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy in this regard and no banned organisation will be allowed to conduct any activities in any way and the law enforcement agencies are active in this regard, he said.

Jahangir also said instructions were given to the law enforcement agencies to take necessary measures to prevent extortion and robbery on highways in order to make the people’s journey smooth during Ramadan and forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims.