The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

The Government is considering the release of convicts, who have already served half term of their punishment period, to accommodate those arrested during the ongoing countrywide crackdown.

The authorities concerned in the metropolitan cities and districts are scrutinizing most of the cases owing to accommodation problems in jails.

The Home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin told reporters that the ongoing cleansing drive was aimed at improving law and order across the country. Home Secretary Abdul Karim and Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, among others, were present at the press briefing at the Home Ministry.

The Adviser categorically refuted the claim that there was any political motive behind the arrest of party activists across the country.

"The current drive is not being conducted to undermine, harass or arrest anybody with any political motive," he said, adding those who

are being arrested have specific allegations against them.

Home Secretary Abdul Karim also said to ease the accommodation problem in prisons the government was thinking about the release of convicts, who have already served half term of their punishment.

Some 24,062 people were arrested from May 29 to June 12 against 19,362 arrested during the same period last year, said the Adviser, denying the allegation of mass arrest.

Of the arrested, he said 16,997 were nabbed under warrants, 153 under Arms and Explosives Act and 7,521 in connection with other cases, including murder and rape.

The Home Adviser said only 191 people were arrested under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

Asked about sudden deterioration of law and order in the country, the Adviser said that terrorists who had been in hideouts might have surfaced thinking that the law was now relaxed ahead of the national elections.

Matin said special operations have been conducted to improve law and order and remove fear from the public minds. He said the armed forces was helping the police to make the drive successful.

The Adviser said accommodation capacity of the prisons was 27,368, but the number of inmates in prisons was 86,504 as on June 7.

Home Adviser MA Matin emphasised that the Government was not acting in any biased manner regarding the release of former Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

"Sheikh Hasina applied for her release, so she was released. Khaleda Zia is still in detention as she has not yet applied for her release," the Adviser said adding, "I do not think any discriminatory attitude has been shown in this matter."

Following Hasina's release, the release of others is under Government consideration, he said. "If former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia applies for her release it will be considered," he reiterated.

Asked whether Hasina, who was released the previous week to seek overseas treatment, would be allowed to address any political meetings, Matin said, "The advisers in charge of political dialogue can answer this question better."

However, the Home Adviser said he believed that under such special conditions of release there was no scope for holding or addressing political meetings.

"The Government has released her on the condition that the Government can cancel the release order at any time," he said.

Asked whether repeated amendments of Emergency Power Rules, during the longest state of emergency in Bangladesh, were a sign of the Government's backtracking, he said, "It cannot be said that Emergency Power Rules have failed."

"An amendment to the rules is not a sign of the Government backtracking. The Government can make such amendments for the sake of the country."