<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Coming down heavily on BNP for unleashing arson violence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said BNP has become Azrael for Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Those who are involved in such kinds of incidents can’t be pardoned. They must face punishment,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Leader of the House said this while taking part in the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech and thus delivering her valedictory speech simultaneously in the maiden session of the 12th parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>During her speech, an audio-visual presentation was screened depicting the terrible scenario of the violence and fire incidents unleashed by BNP-Jamaat jote in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>She said BNP has continued terrorist activities day after day. Many are still leading a miserable life sustaining burn injuries in the arson violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat jote, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>About the allegation that a huge number of BNP men are politically arrested, she questioned what is called political prisoners (Rajbondi) and how those who killed people by burning them through fire can be political prisoners. They are rather terrorists, militants and criminals.</div><div><br></div><div>“None are arrested due to political reasons. Those who remain arrested are either order-givers, directly engaged in the incidents or financers. So, none of the financers, order-givers or those who are directly engaged won’t be spared,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM asked the members of parliament to pay heed to quick deposition of witnesses and documents of the cases filed in connection with arson violence in their respective areas for the sake of quick disposal of the cases and ensuring punishment for the perpetrators.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the Israel attack on Gaza hospitals, Hasina said Israel kills children and women. “The character of the BNP is the same as it does here what Israel is doing in Palestine. BNP has become Azrael for Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The first session of the current parliament, which was formed through the January 7 general election, began on January 30. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>