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PM Sheikh Hasina Decries Nationwide Violence as Conspiracy to Cripple Bangladesh’s Economy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared today (27 July) that the recent widespread violence is part of a conspiracy aimed at crippling Bangladesh’s economy and turning the nation into one of beggars once again.
“It might be their conspiracy to make us again a nation of beggars by crippling the country’s economy completely,” she said, according to BSS reports.
The prime minister made these remarks during her visit to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), also known as Pongu Hospital, in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. She was there to see patients injured during the recent student protests for public service quota reform. The visit took place around 9am this morning, where she instructed hospital authorities to ensure proper treatment for the victims.
At approximately 10am, Prime Minister Hasina visited the Setu Bhaban and the Department of Disaster Management to assess the damage caused by the attackers. At Setu Bhaban, she inspected the vandalized floors and premises. Accompanied by the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Obaidul Quader, and other senior ministry officials, she received a briefing on the extent of the damage from the vandalism and arson attacks, which included numerous vehicles set ablaze.
Earlier, the prime minister also visited the toll plaza of the elevated expressway at Mohakhali to view the damaged sections.
On 18 July, approximately 250-300 unidentified individuals stormed Setu Bhaban, vandalizing vehicles and motorbikes, and ransacking various rooms and sheds. The attackers set these on fire, beating many employees in the process. Around 50 vehicles were torched at the Setu Bhaban during this violent outbreak.
The prime minister’s visits today underscore the severity of the attacks and the government’s commitment to addressing the aftermath of the violence.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
