Bangladesh warns protesters of tough anti-terrorism measures

DHAKA: Bangladesh government has warned protesters of invoking tough anti-terrorism measures and taking stern legal actions like the death penalty to quell the current spate of political unrest that has claimed 66 lives.

Bangladesh authorities last night warned of stern legal actions like the death penalty under the anti-terrorism law against "saboteurs", hours after opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief Khaleda Zia issued a statement saying anti-government protests would continue.

"I am ready to face any consequences as our backs have been pushed against the wall. We have no alternative to the movement," she said.

Immediately after her statement, the state-run Bangladesh Television warned that the saboteurs would face death penalty for activities like burning people to death by throwing petrol bombs on vehicles.

Officials familiar with the government plan to enforce the anti-terror law said the cabinet preferred to activate the existing law after reviewing options to enact fresh laws to handle the unrest.

The home ministry also issued a statement highlighting the other legal provisions against instigating and patronising violence under the law which was amended last year suggesting tough punitive actions.

Meanwhile, a court in Panchagarh took cognisance of a case accusing Zia of "instigating arson attack" in the district recently. The complaint has been filed by a ruling Awami League supporter.

Police in Dhaka and central Comilla has already slapped similar charges against Zia in connection with two of the worst arson attacks that left over 12 people dead and several others injured.

Zia has been accused of ordering the attacks in the cases and legal experts have said that the ex-premier could be arrested if investigations point towards her involvement in instigating the violence.

Several of her party leaders, including BNP's acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were earlier put behind bars to face charges in connection with the spate of violence.

Zia, however, has refused to accept the liability of the deaths caused by the unrest, saying "that we do not do politics with people's lives". She holds her arch-rival Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as responsible for the deaths.

Two more deaths overnight took the death toll in the violence to 66 as the BNP enforced non-stop nationwide blockade entered its 31st day today.