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AL joins JS, slams govt for crime check failure

Staff Correspondent
A blistering attack of opposition lawmakers on the ruling coalition for what they said was its failure to control crimes apparently jolted ministers yesterday, as the Awami League came back to the House after on-and-off boycott of sessions.
"Who is the prime minister --Bangla Bhai or Khaleda Zia?" Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina asked, indicating the rise of an Islamist outfit blamed for a series of killings in vigilante action since April 1 and police's failure to arrest its chief Bangla Bhai.
Hasina accused the government of failing to deliver and demanded immediate arrest of Bangla Bhai and a stop to all crimes. "The dual rule -- one by the BNP-Jamaat coalition and the other by Bangla Bhai -- cannot be
allowed," she said.
The AL that boycotted 152 sittings of the eighth parliament since it came into being on October 28, 2001 returned to the House, a day after its parliamentary wing decided to take part in the House activities.
"We have heard the prime minister ordered the police to arrest Bangla Bhai, but he was not captured. Rather, his men brought out a procession under police protection," Hasina said, pointing to the militants outfit's recent armed showdown in Rajshahi city.
AL lawmaker Shahjahan Khan, attending the 12th session that saw tabling of the FY2004-05 budget, blasted Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman for more allocation in the revised budget.
AL's comeback to the House marks its change of heart that came after it decided to take part in Jatiya Sangsad activities including nominating its lawmakers to parliamentary standing committees, most of them formed in July last year.
The main opposition insisted the parliamentary standing committees be retooled as it termed their formation unconstitutional -a demand the ruling party brushed aside.
The AL did not nominate its members last year, saying the committees were constituted without prior discussion with the opposition.
CRIME CONTROL
The opposition lawmakers came down heavily on the government for its failure to arrest killers of AL lawmaker Ahsanullah Master and attackers of British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury and racketeers of the largest arms haul in Chittagong.
The AL demanded that the ruling coalition hold general discussions on the hot-button issues in parliament and a brake on law and order downslide -- a demand that prompted LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan to assure the opposition lawmakers of strong anticrime steps.
"There is no instance of the rule of law in the country. The government patronises criminals. People want freedom," said Hasina, who joined the session a couple of minutes after her deputies went in amid recitation from the Quran. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was not present in the House.
AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta launched into an unscheduled debate on law and order that lasted over an hour with the participation
of his party colleagues Abdus Samad Azad and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Mannan Bhuiyan and State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar from the treasury bench.
Bhuiyan alleged Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar allowed the opposition lawmakers to speak beyond the rules of procedure.
The LGRD minister said the government took measures to arrest Bangla Bhai and the killers of Ahsanullah Master, gunned down at a roadside rally in the industrial town of Tongi on May 7. "Nobody is above the law. If Bangla Bhai is arrested and proved guilty, he will face legal action."
He said investigators would submit the chargesheet on the killing of Ahsanullah Master in 30 days.
Hasina asked the state minister for home why Superintendent of Police (SP) Abdul Baten, who was investigating the murder of Ahsanullah Master, was arrested.
"Was the bribe less than expected? Why did the SP offer to bribe the state minister? Is it true that the state minister is into malpractice and police officials know it?" Hasina asked.
Babar brushed aside the allegation and demanded expunction of Hasina's remarks on him.
Samad Azad said there is no rule of law in Bangladesh, adding: "Who is running the state -- the government or criminals?"
Earlier, a five-member delegation led by Deputy Leader of the Opposition Abdul Hamid met the speaker and demanded enough time for budget discussion and retooling of parliamentary standing committees.
(Read the editorial)