BANGLADESH

The prime minister has said the ongoing trial of the guilty BDR (now BGB) personnel will be completed despite all hindrances.

Sheikh Hasina was speaking at a meeting organised by Rangabali upazila unit of the party after laying the foundation stone for a new upazila council complex at the newly-formed Rangabali upazila in the district.

Earlier, she reached Rangabali – a char area in the coastal belt – by a helicopter in the morning. She also inaugurated a number of development projects worth about Tk 2 billion.

Referring to the government's efforts to complete the BDR mutiny trial in the shortest possible time, Hasina alleged that main opposition BNP was trying to save the mutineers.

"You may find out who are the defence lawyers ... they are from BNP," she charged.

Saturday was the third anniversary of the mutiny at the para-military force's headquarters, in which at least 73 people, including 57 army officers deputed to the BDR, were killed.

The border guards were known as Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) until 2010 when they were renamed Border Guard Bangladesh. Its uniform, monogram and certain governing laws were also changed with an aim to free the force of the mutiny stigma.

Hasina, also the president of the ruing Awami League, said that development work in the country's southern region takes place only when Awami League comes to power.

"The people of the country's southern region get something when Awami League comes to power. On the other hand, when the BNP comes to power, the country becomes a hotbed of terrorism, loot, extortion and land-grabbing," she added.

Hasina said the district's Sonarchar would also be developed as a tourist spot like Kuakata – a panoramic sea beach on the southern-most tip of Bangladesh.

Recalling that Barisal region was once known as the country's warehouse of food grains, Hasina lamented that the region is currently lagged behind. "The present government is earnestly trying to restore the glorious past of the region."

Claiming that the price of rice has come down to Tk 25 to 30 per kilogramme outside the capital city, the prime minister held rising commodity prices in the international market responsible for the recent price hike in the domestic market.

"No farmer has yet been killed during the tenure of the Awami League government, rather the farmers are being provided with fertilisers," she added.

During the tenure of the BNP government during 1991-96, a total of 17 farmers were killed in police firing during the agitation against poor power supply that hampered farming activities and protest against shortage of fertilisers crops need to be fed to help them grow.

Claiming that a certain quarter was obstructing the ongoing war crimes trial, Hasina said the trial of those who had committed crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War must be held on the Bangla soil.

"The trial of the killers of Bangabandhu has been held and the trial of Aug 21 grenade attack case will also be taken to its logical conclusion," he added.

After the end of the meeting, the prime minister went to Kuakata where she inaugurated 'Jubo Pantho Nibas', a Parjatan Corporation motel and a 20-bed hospital.

She also laid the foundation stone of Kuakata Municipal Bhaban.

Later, she went to Kalapara where she formally opened 50-bed Kalapara Upazila Hospital, upgraded from a 20-bed one.

Hasina also laid foundation stones of three bridges on 22-km-long Kuakata-Kalapara road. The bridges are named after three sons of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel, also her brothers.

The prime minister later addressed a public meeting as the chief guest at Mozahar Uddin Biswas College ground in the afternoon.