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Altaf faces PM flak

Remarks on Naushin's killing irk BNP rank

NAZMUL ASHRAF
Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury's comment on Thursday's killing of 20-month old child Naushin in the capital has irked the prime minister and drawn flak from the ruling BNP rank.
Sources said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who was attending the UN special session on child rights in New York, phoned BNP Secretary General and LRGD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan several times yesterday to talk about the law and order, Naushin's killing and the home minister's controversial comments.
Earlier on the day, press clippings were sent to her on the tragedy. The PM asked Bhuiyan to strengthen government efforts aimed at improving the law and order, sources said. "We must live up to the people's expectation about the country's law and order," Bhuiyan quoted Khaleda as saying to him on the phone.
BNP leaders, including some ministers, felt that the home minister should be removed, as his remarks were highly embarrassing for the government and damaging to its image. They also observed that he had failed to deal effectively with growing acts of crime across the country.
While consoling parents of Naushin at their Badda residence Friday, the home minister had said none could change destiny when it comes to death. "Life and death are in the hands of Allah and none can do anything about them. Allah has taken back his creature," the home minister philosophised. Talking to newsmen about the death later on, he said the baby was not the target. "Bullets were fired (by the muggers) from the other side of the street. None thought the bullet would hit (the baby) in such way."
Briefing his party colleagues who met him at his office and residence about the PM's instruction, the BNP secretary general said the prime minister had asked the authorities concerned to be tougher and unsparing while dealing with crime.
Later in the evening, he also had a meeting with top police officials including the IPG, and senior BNP leaders.
The home minister's comments on such a delicate issue reportedly embarrassed and even angered most of the ministers and other BNP leaders. At the Bangladesh Secretariat, ministers and top
officials termed the home minister's remarks not only untimely but also damaging to the government.
About a dozen ministers and BNP MPs met the party secretary general yesterday to vent their anger at the home minister's remarks and his performance.
Since taking office seven months ago, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury made many controversial remarks about the country's ever deteriorating law and order. "Crimes have decreased though murders have increased in the country", is one of his infamous comments.
The home minister was widely criticised when he completely denied press reports on violence against the minority Hindus soon after the BNP-led coalition government took office, terming those exaggerations.