No mercy for killers of SP's wife

Terming the murder of a police official's wife in Chittagong a cowardly act, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to bring the perpetrators of the killing to justice.

“I can say that those who committed the killing won't get away scot-free... they must be tracked down and brought to justice,” she said while exchanging views with expatriate Bangladeshis at Madina Hilton here on Monday evening.

Mahmuda Akter Mitu, wife of Babul Akter, superintendent of police of Police Headquarters, was stabbed and shot dead by bike-riding assailants in the port city on Sunday.

Hasina said there was no offence of the police official's wife. “She was killed in front of her kid while going to drop him at his school... this is a very regrettable incident.”

The PM said her government's stance against terrorism and corruption is very clear. “We'll never allow terrorism... we don't want such an incident happens in Bangladesh.”

Those who had unleashed arson attacks on buses, trains, launches and burnt people to death are now engaged in secret killings, she alleged.

Recalling the contributions of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to present a better life to the people of Bangladesh, Hasina said the country would have become a developed country at least 20 years ago, had Bangabandhu been alive.

About her successful Saudi visit and the meeting with King Salman, the PM said efforts would be there to boost bilateral trade between the two countries.

Bangladesh has joined the Islamic Alliance against terrorism and violent extremism as the country's stance is very firm against corruption and terrorism, she added.

Acknowledging the contribution of the expatriate Bangladeshis to the country's economy, the premier said none would be able to rebuke Bangladesh as poor.

“We've advanced a lot to come out of the poverty level and we would be able to move much ahead... we've such a confidence.”

Hasina assured the Bangladeshi expatriates of solving their problems and advised them to always abide by the law of the Kingdom.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Golam Masih, and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present, among others.