Bangladesh News

The government would take a tough stance against any further violence regarding the Women Development Policy issue.

Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin during a press briefing last night said, “We have shown enough tolerance since religious sentiment is linked with it. But, it will be wrong if anyone considered it a weakness of the government… We will become tough if needed.”

“We will face it the next time… we will try to prevent it. After all the emergency is there,” Matin said revealing the government’s stance on the issue following last week’s violent demonstrations against the policy in Dhaka and Chittagong by Islamists.

Additional police forces will be deployed at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque today (Friday), a place which saw violent demonstration on April 10 and 11 when Islamist clashed with law enforcers leaving 200 hurt.

After a rumour had spread that an imam was killed in the clashes on April 11, madrasa students stormed Hathazari Police Station in Chittagong the same day.

Talking to newsmen yesterday, the home adviser expressed hope that no violence or demonstration will take place today as the government is actively considering the recommendations of a committee of ulemas (Islamic scholars) regarding the women development policy.

“The government will analyse them. I am sure that there will be nothing in the policy that contradicts the Quran and the Sunnah. The government is determined about it,” he said.

Asked whether the government would put the policy on hold due to demonstrations against it, the home adviser said, “There is no question of any activity [regarding the implementation of the policy]. This is not a law and the government has no desire to enact any.”

Saying he believes that a vested quarter is banking on the issue to generate violence, he urged all to refrain form such activities.

He said the intelligence agencies are working to find out who were involved in last week’s violence.

Talking about measure to prevent such incidents occurring again at the mosque, he said, “We have ordered announcement from loudspeakers so that innocent musollis [devotees] can leave the place after the prayers end. Besides, there will be security personnel there.”

The adviser held an emergency meeting with officials of law enforcement agencies at his office in the evening to work out a plan to stop violence breaking out near the National Mosque today.