Identify masterminds of UNO attack: PM Hasina

Assuring that the culprits will be punished, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said a thorough investigation is being carried out to identify the masterminds of the attack on Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Wahida Khanam.

“We’ve already identified and arrested some culprits. It’s also being investigated to find out who else was behind it or who patronised them to carry out the attack. It's being investigated thoroughly. There's no shortfall in the investigation process and won't be either,” she said replying to a supplementary question from BNP MP Harunur Rashid.

“The culprits will surely be punished. I can at least say we’ll ensure it,” said the prime minister.

She asked the Members of Parliament so that they do not try to protect such culprits. “Those who commit crimes and those who protect the criminals are equally guilty,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said investigations are being carried out properly to unearth not only the theft motive but also other possible reasons behind the attack.

The prime minister said the government made all arrangements for UNO Wahida’s medical treatment by airlifting her to Dhaka promptly.

“I see a culprit as a culprit. I don’t consider what party he or she belongs to or who he or she is. I don’t spare even if they (culprits) belong to my party,” she said.

Wahida Khanam and her father were injured in an attack by miscreants at her home on the Upazila Parishad premises early Thursday. They were taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital.

Later, the UNO was airlifted from Rangpur to Dhaka by an Air Force helicopter. She was admitted to the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital in Dhaka.

‘The attack on the UNO a heinous act’

While replying to a supplementary question from another BNP MP Gulam Mohammad Siraj, the prime minister described the attack on the UNO as a heinous act.

“What happened to an UNO–Wahida is very sad. Attacking a government employee with hammer entering a residence this way is an extremely heinous act. There is no doubt about it,” she said.  

The prime minister said the government is always alert to maintain the law and order and is taking action against the culprits.

‘There will be no homeless people’

Responding to a question from Awami League MP Abdus Shahid, Hasina said the government continues its rehabilitation activities with a goal that there will be no homeless people in the country.

A total of 118,213 families have been rehabilitated in 2,704 villages across the country spending Tk 1,140.24 crore under Adarsha Gram and Gucchagram projects and some 319,140 families have so far been rehabilitated under Ashrayan project, she said.

Besides, the construction work on 139 five-storey buildings continues at Khurushkul in Cox’s Bazar for the rehabilitation of 4,409 climate refugee families. Some 600 families were rehabilitated there after the construction of 20 buildings was completed, she added.

On the occasion of 'Mujib Borsha', a policy was formulated in 2020 to provide houses to all landless and homeless people of the country in order to implement the goal that not a single person will remain homeless in Bangladesh, she mentioned.

In line with the policy, the activities of the Ashrayan Project-II started to ensure houses for all landless and homeless families across the country, Hasina said.

She said the government collected the list of 589,750 homeless families from every district through the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and has taken an initiative to construct semi-pucca houses for 592,261 families across the country at a cost of Tk 1.71 lakh each.

Besides, the list of 293,330 landless and homeless families from each district was collected through the DCs, Hasina added.

The prime minister suggested the MPs to provide the data of homeless families if any family remains out of the list as the government will take measures after verification. 

‘I first look for Jainamaj after waking up’

When Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam wanted to know for what she looks first waking up from the bed every morning, Sheikh Hasina said she started her day with saying prayers and reciting the holy Quran.

“I first look for Jainamaj (prayer mat) after waking up (from the bed). Then I recite the holy Quran. I make a cup of tea or coffee on my own. If my younger sister or my daughter Putul is there at my home, the one who wakes up first makes tea or coffee for me,” she said, adding that then she reads books.

At this Covid-19 period, the prime minister said, she goes for a morning walk and sits on the bank of Ganabhaban Lake with a fishing rod to catch fish there, she said.

The prime minister said they behave nicely even with rickshaw-pullers, car drivers and domestic help showing respect as her father taught them to do so.