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Prove graft allegation or face legal action

PM to demonstrators in universities


Bangladeshpost
Published : 07 Nov 2019 09:39 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 10:39 AM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the people, who are creating anarchy on universities after bringing corruption allegations against vice-chancellors, would have to face legal action if they fail to prove it, reports BSS.

“The people who are frequently carrying out movements against vice chancellors branding them as corrupt. They must have to prove the allegation. If they can prove it action will be taken against them (VCs), otherwise, legal action will be taken against those making allegation,” she said while distributing assistance among journalists at a function at the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital.

The remarks came when unrests are going on over corruption allegations at Jahangirnagar University and Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST). The premier said that it would not be tolerated anymore to stop classes and launch attacks on the houses of VCs and offices in the name of movements without any logical grounds.

“Corruption allegations are usually surfaced whenever any development project is taken place,” she said, opining that the allegations might have come while the money earned through grafts is not distributed properly. In this context, she said the BUET students have been carrying out the movement following death of a fellow student since the people responsible for killing of the student, were arrested and a case was filed to this end, saying, “I found no logic to continue the movement.”

The premier slammed the Bengali daily Prothom Alo over the death of a student of Dhaka Residential Model School and College in electrocution due to their negligence in arranging a programme at the school where little children joined the function and attended the school.
“How they (Prothom Alo) could make such negligence. Didn’t they have any responsibilities to arrange the programme in a proper manner as little students are roaming there. But, they did not pay heed to the matter. This is a serious offence. It can’t be tolerated,” she said.

The premier also criticized the Prothom Alo authority for taking the student in a private hospital in Mohakhali despite having several hospitals such as Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital and Trauma Centre around the venue.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, State Minister for Information Dr Murad Hasan and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Information Ministry Hasanul Haq Inu were present on the dais while Information Secretary Abdul Malek moderated the function.

PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad and PM’s Speech Writer Md Nazrul Islam were present on the occasion.

Bangladesh Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, eminent journalist Abed Khan, President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Molla Jalal and Secretary General Shaban Mahmud, President of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Abu Jafar Surjo and General Sectary Sohel Haider Chowdhury, BTV Director General SM Harunur Rashid and PIB Director General Zafar Wazed, among others, were also present.