Stop vandalism, return to class rooms: PM urges students

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the demonstrating students to go back to educational institutions relinquishing vandalism, saying vandalism of vehicles is not the job of students as law enforcement agencies are chasing the offenders to expose them to punishment.

"Do not do this. Please go back to your educational institutions and concentrate on study," she said while opening the newly installed Mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and laying the foundation stone of Joyeeta Tower at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

"Of course, the offenders are being brought under punishment as they have been found out. We will do this and law enforcement agencies are very alert in this regard," she said in her virtual address from her official residence Ganabhaban.

The premier said with video footage in hand,  it is not a very tough job to find out the perpetrators involved in any crime as "all activities are now being conducted using technology".

Sheikh Hasina also expressed a note of warning against vandalism, saying those involved in vandalising vehicles and setting fire in future would be found out and punished.

"In addition, they will also have to face stringent punishment if any person dies due to this vandalism and fire on vehicles," she added.

Noting that the student's death is very much painful and unfortunate, she said educational institutions remained closed for a long time due to Covid-19 pandemic but all of these have been opened and the government is providing Covid-19 vaccines to students.

"So, all of you have to put concentration on study," the premier said.

She said it has to be remembered that the coronavirus did not go away fully; rather a new variant (Omicron) is approaching, adding that any time it could spread out which might force the authorities concerned to close the educational institutions again.

She continued, "So, you [students] should go back to your classrooms. How much time will you get to concentrate on your study?"

With State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira in the chair, Secretary of the ministry Md Sayedul Islam delivered the welcome address.

Bangladesh Shishu Academy Chairperson Lucky Enam and Joyeeta Foundation Managing Director Afroja Khan also spoke.

The mural was installed at the premises of Bangladesh Shishu Academy while Joyeeta Tower is being constructed in the city's Dhanmondi area.

Later, two video documentaries on Bangabandhu and Joyeeta Foundation were screened at the ceremony.

The prime minister urged all to remain cautious and careful on the roads and strictly follow the traffic rules to escape any accident.

"Specific places are fixed to cross roads. If people try to cross roads indiscriminately then accidents will happen. A moving vehicle cannot stop abruptly. It stops slowly. So, roads should be crossed using the specific zones," she said.

She came down heavily on those who always block roads, damage vehicles and set vehicles on fire after any accident instead of helping the victim get quick treatment.

"There are passengers, children and students in those vehicles that are set on fire. If anyone is hurt, burnt and dies, who will take the responsibility?" she said.

In this connection, she said naturally the attackers might have to take the responsibility.

She continued that the law enforcement agencies should take steps against those who are engaged in vandalism and torching vehicles. "So, I will request everyone, please don't take law in your hands," she added.

The head of the government also asked the drivers to drive vehicles carefully as Bangladesh is a densely populated country. "So, when you drive here, you have to receive proper training," she said.

She said the government has been giving utmost importance on driving in its vocational or technical training centers, even in upazila level, to develop skilled drivers.

Mentioning that the country needs more drivers in the coming days as people are gradually becoming self-reliant economically along with increasing their capacities to buy cars.

Pointing out that government's buses are plying the road by trained drivers, she said the private bus owners should also train up their drivers.

On the other hand, she said a person could not drive a vehicle for long without break and that is why they are constructing rest houses on the highways.

Turning to the student's death, the premier said she even was unable to understand the mystery of two deaths by two garbage-laden trucks of South and North Dhaka city corporations.

"What is the reason? It has to be dug out who is responsible for this…Another point that needs to be ascertained is whether the persons who were driving the vehicles have the skill to drive," she said.

She said Bangladesh has attained huge economic progress in the last 12 years and people are now leading an improved life with availing mobile phones, social media, TV and many more. "This Bangladesh is much more different than that of 10-14 years ago."

She urged the students to prepare themselves to pull the country towards further development in future.

The prime minister also briefly highlighted the initiatives for the development of children and women by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman immediately after the independence as well as her government during 1996-2001 and since 2009.