Home Minister Mohammad Nasim, facing sharp criticism for his remarks about the higher courts, told the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday that what he said was not against courts but about dispensation of justice and sheltering of terrorists.

“I spoke for peace and against terrorism. I spoke for justice and against those protecting the terrorists. I snail continue speaking against whoever protects the terrorists." the minister said while referring to the High Court's granting of bail to Nurunnabi. an accused in the Udichi murder case. He is also an accused in three other murder cases.

Nasim further said that the accused did not turn up in the

lower court for bail, nor he sought ball from Inside the jail. He was granted ball as soon as he appeared before the High Court.

The minister went on. "Do they not read newspapers? Do they not live in this society? How could they release the accused arrested by law enforcing agency personnel risking their lives?"

In this connection, he said that everyone must be accountable to the people for one’s deeds, no matter who one is. “If the prime minister and the elected representatives are accountable. then why should they not be?"

Nasim made the statement as he protested a remark by BNP chief and Leader of the Op-

position Khaleda Zia.

The minister urged her to return to the House and contest what he said about peace and against terrorism. "If necessary. I will prove my remarks with papers and records."

Addressing a public meeting In the city on Tuesday, the BNP chief said that the home minister. If he had the courage, should come out on the streets and say what he said in the parliament about the High Court.

“I don't need to learn from Khaleda Zia what to say on the streets and what in the parliament. If you (Khaleda) have the courage, contest my remark standing in the parliament." Nasim said. She had no right to stay away from the House and spread 'falsehood' on the streets after taking votes from the people, he added.

Speaking on a motion felicitating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for being elected Founder-President of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace. Nasim castigated the opposition leader for not attending the Asian Parliamentarians' Conference for Peace and Cooperation held in the city recenlly and forcing' her party lawmakers to do the same.

They don't want peace and so they refrained from attending the peace conference," he said, accusing BNP of 'sheltering and patronising terrorists.'

The home minister also alleged that BNP was trying to protect the identified culprits involved in killings at the Udichi programme in Jessore and in the murder of JSD leader Kazi Aref.