Online Desk  :  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday reiterated that Jamaat-Shibir and BNP used the student movement for quota reform as their shield to unleash the recent reign of terrorism across the country. “They (Jamaat-Shibir and BNP) just used the students as their shield,” she said while Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban. PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Noorelahi Mina briefed the reporters after the call on. He said that the prime minister mentioned that Jamaat-Shibir and BNP are used to kill people through arson attacks.

She said that she has visited different hospitals to see the injured who are getting treatments following the violence. “We are providing medicare facilities to all equally,” she added. Thanks  Hasina said that everything including the economic activities of the country is gradually returning  to normalcy. She said that as the whole country came under digitisation it is taking some time to resume the services of vandalised toll plazas of the expressway and the metro rail stations. The Italian envoy said that the anarchists targeted the symbols of modernisation in Bangladesh. He expressed his condolences for the loss of lives and properties. “He hoped that the prime minister will ensure justuce and accountability of the culprits behind these vandalism,” Mina said.

He appreciated Bangladesh for its move and success in containing terrorism after the attack on Holey Artisan.“He hoped that like the Holey Artisan incident, Bangladesh will be able to advance the move to contain the terrorism through ensuring justice,” Mina Quoted the Italian ambassador as saying. He appreciated the primeinister’s steps in handling  the recent attacks and vandalism. He said that  Bangladesh and Italy historically enjoy excellent friendly relations. In this connection, he mentioned that some two lakh plus Bangladeshi expatriates are the bridge of this relationship and they are contributing to both country’s economies.

Alessandro said that he will work for advancing further the excellent relations between the two countries. In this regard, he mentioned that energy, SME, Space Technology and Ship Building sectors will be at the centre of this area of work. He also expressed his firm resolve to move forward the issue of the legal migration to Italy. The ambassador expressed his country’s keen interest to train Bangladesh police in ‘School of Public Order’ to handle various types of unwanted situation like protests and crack down as his country’s police personnel have vast experience since after the second World War.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina termed the proposal as good one and said that further talks will be held in this regard. PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman and Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin were present.