No tolerance for mob culture Zabihullah

The government will not tolerate “mob culture” and will enforce the law to prevent such incidents, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration Affairs Ismail Zabihullah said on Monday.

The government will take a firm stance against mob violence and ensure that the country is governed according to law, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration Affairs Ismail Zabihullah said on Monday.

“Mob culture is undesirable whenever it occurs. We hope there will be no mob culture, and it should never happen,” he said while answering journalists’ questions at an exchange of views marking 180 days of the government at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon.

Responding to allegations that mob incidents had continued after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and that law enforcement agencies had remained largely inactive, Zabihullah said he did not have a clear example of a recent incident similar to those seen during the final period of the interim government.

“There is no such mob culture as was seen toward the end of the interim government. However, we can assure you that this kind of mob culture will not be tolerated,” said Zabihullah, who is also a BNP Standing Committee member.

He stressed that the government would run the country according to the law and enforce it against such incidents.

Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and BNP Standing Committee member Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, who also took part in the discussion, said the extent of mob culture had declined significantly.

Rizvi said mob culture had emerged partly because of political support, with indirect political influence often playing a role in such incidents.

“As the rule of law becomes stronger, mob violence will decline,” he said, adding that the government’s commitment to the rule of law would help create an environment in which such incidents would decrease further.

The remarks came during a wider question-and-answer session with journalists on the government’s activities and challenges during its first 180 days.

Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin presented statistics on the government’s activities and achievements over the period.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly moderated the programme. PM’s Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan, Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon also spoke.