Shawdesh Desk:

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that the government had no intention to obstruct the political programmes of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, but would not spare them if they repeated any destructive activity.

‘We will not obstruct them in doing politics and are not doing so as well. But they won’t get spared if they set fire to rails again or make any damage to the people,’ she said, referring to the violence unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat  during the 2013-2015 period.

The PM made the warning while opening train movement on the newly constructed 72-km dual-gauge double rail line, which was built under the Akhaura-Laksam Double Track Project.

She joined the inaugural function at Laksam in Cumilla through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban.

With the newly constructed 72-km dual-gauge double track, the entire 321-km Dhaka-Chattogram corridor has turned into a double lined one increasing its operational capacity, which will save travelling time by 30 minutes to one hour on this route.

Hasina said that there would be cameras everywhere and the culprits will be identified and punished properly in case of any destructive activity.

Terming BNP and Jamaat the terrorist parties,  Hasina said they know how to destroy but they don’t know how to create anything or serve the people.

‘They know how to plunder, commit corruption and make self-gains,’ she said.

The prime minister asked the people of the country to remain alert so that they can stay protected from the hands of terrorist BNP-Jamaat.

‘We want the country to be protected from their hands,’ she said.

Railways minister Nurul Islam Sujan chaired the event from Laksam end, while LGRD and cooperatives minister Tazul Islam (local lawmaker from Laksam-Monohorgonj) and law, justice and parliamentary affairs minister Anisul Huq (local lawmaker from Akhaura-Kashba) and Asian Development Bank country director for Bangladesh Edimon Ginting spoke on the occasion.

PMO secretary Mohammad Salahuddin conducted the function and railways secretary Humayun Kabir delivered the welcome speech.