To prevent the growing incident of sexual harassment, the government will ensure maximum punishment to offenders by enacting tougher laws if needed, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“No mercy for sexual abusers … if necessary, we must frame a tougher law, and ensure the maximum punishment,” she said in Parliament on Monday referring to killing of Feni madrasa girl Nusrat Jahan Rafi.
Participating in a discussion on the resolution placed in parliament, the Leader of the House called upon the parliaments, governments and citizens of all countries of the world to build up resistance against terrorism and sexual harassments, reports BSS.
Mentioning that the militancy and terrorism are not a problem of Bangladesh alone, but also the whole world, Sheikh Hasina said her government will do whatever necessary to combat the menaces.
The prime minister renewed her call to the people of the country to inform the intelligence agencies instantly after knowing any suspicious activity to fight militancy and terrorism in the country.
“I would like to urge the people of country to inform our intelligences promptly if you notice any abnormal activity so that we can face it and save the public life and property,” she said.
Describing slain Feni teenager Nusrat as a ‘brave girl’, the prime minister said she did not bow to injustice and did not agree to drop charges filed against the principal of her madrasa.
“After the incident, efforts were made to label Nusrat as characterless. But she protested this till her death and she was burnt to death for showing this bravery,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The prime minister said she instantly directed the police to bring the perpetrators to book. “I don’t want to see who belong to which party … the criminals are criminals. Such incident can never be accepted,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina firmly said those who are engaged in such incident, the government must take action against them irrespective of their political affiliation and views.
Treasury Bench lawmaker Tofail Ahmed placed the proposal in the House, which was passed by voice vote after around four-hour marathon discussion over the resolution.
In the resolution, Jatiya Sangsad expressed its deep shock and anger at the loss of lives of a huge number of people in the terror attacks in New Zealand’s Christchurch mosques, Sri Lankan churches and Hotels as well as sexual harassment towards Feni Madrasa student Nusrat and burning her to death.
The House expressed profound shock and sorrow at the tragic death of Zayan Chowdhury, a grandson of Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Health Ministry Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim who was killed in the terror attacks in Colombo on Easter Sunday.
Later, Parliament unanimously adopted the resolution urging the parliaments, governments and citizens of all countries of the world to forge resistance against terror incidents and sexual harassments.