‘We won’t interfere if BNP events are peaceful’: Home Minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday urged BNP to carry out their political activities in a "disciplined way", making it clear that the government will not shy away from taking action if they resort to violence, reports UNB.

Asserting that carrying sticks to political programmes is clearly “against the law”, the Home Minister said, “We’ve seen BNP activists thronging rallies with sticks in their hands, following the directives of their leaders. We won’t interfere if they are peaceful. But we’ll surely take action if they become violent.”

“I hope that BNP will conduct their programmes in a disciplined way. We won’t spare them, if they endanger people’s lives and damage properties by blocking roads or resorting to vandalism,” he added.

Asaduzzaman said these on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the mini-marathon and annual sports competition arranged by the Public Security Division at the Secretariat on Saturday.

Replying to a question, the Home Minister urged BNP leaders to be careful with the words that they speak.

“You (the media) are alleging that ruling party activists are attacking BNP members at different places of the country. I’ll request the BNP leaders to refrain from saying such things that incite violence. All the clashes between us (AL) and them (BNP) have happened due to verbal instigation,” he said.