Bangladesh News

Law Adviser Mainul Hosein yesterday said the politicians who patronised militants will also be arrested as part of the caretaker government’s drive to restore law and order in the country.

“There were political hands in the rise of militancy in the country,” Mainul told reporters at his office, adding that the militants dared to exercise their strength because of party politics of the country.

The government is mulling an anti-militant act while it is probing the nature of the politicians’ involvement in the rise of militancy, he said.

Those who patronised the rise of militants in the country are on the list of the bigwigs against whom the crackdown is being conducted.

“The priority of the caretaker government is to arrest people who think they are above the law,” said Mainul, adding, “They looted [public wealth] because they thought they are above the law.

They should be taught a lesson that a time will come when the country will not protect them anymore.

“I am not saying everyone is guilty of corruption, but as a citizen of the country I am saying that politics is not for leading to corruption but to the service of the nation,” he added.

Mainul said the government appreciates the people’s anger at the politicians for indulging in corruption and that is why they are being arrested.

He said the arrestees will be tried as per the legal process. A special court and tribunal already exists in the Anti-Corruption Commission, but the government will try to quickly dispose of the cases so that the accused do not have to worry over their fate for a prolonged period.

It is not the government’s priority to arrest corrupt bureaucrats and businessmen at the moment as they can be tried under regular criminal procedures, Mainul said.