Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan  Mahmud today said a vested quarter is trying to stigmatise the movement of the students. “A quarter with vested interest is out to create chaos and stigmatise the  students capitalising their movements for safe road ….It is evident from  the Monday’s night incident,” he told while exchanging views with newsmen at  his Secretariat office here.

The minister greeted the journalists at the beginning of the month of  victory and on the golden jubilee of the country’s independence. Mentioning that students are staging agitation demanding half fare and  safe road, the minister said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed all  concerned to implement the half fare for students in BRTC buses”.

“Apart from this, the Dhaka Bus Owners Association has also declared that  they will implement the half fare for students from today (Wednesday). I also  hope that the bus owners of other cities including Chattogram will take the  same decision,” he added.

But, a student was killed in a tragic road accident on Monday night, he  said, praying salvation of the departed soul.  He said, according to the witnesses, the accident took place around 10:45  pm on that night and ‘Nirapad Sarak Chai’, a facebook page, went on live at  10:57 pm and the news was aired at ‘Telegram’ channel, run by Jamaat at 11  pm.

And the news was spread over all social platforms from the channel, he  added. He said, “Now it is a question that how the facebook page ‘Nirapad Sarak  Chai’ reached the spot only after 12 minutes of the accident and aired live  telecast and how Basher Killa, a facebook page of Jamaat, knew the incident  only after 15 minutes?

And how they torched 10 to 12 vehicles within 15  minutes?” The minister said, “The students didn’t torch the vehicles as they didn’t  reach the spot within 10 to 15 minutes. It is now a question that where the  persons, who liked the facebook page that informed about the incident?”

The minister urged all countrymen to remain alert against them. He said a case was filed and investigation is going on.  Legal actions would be taken against the culprits who were involved in the  incident, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary. Replying to a query over Union Parishad polls, he said AL candidates have  passed in the most UP polls and the rebel candidates are in the second  position. BNP is also taking part in the election tactically without party
symbol and Jatiya Party is also taking in the polls, he added. About the treatment of BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia, the minister said the  Premier has shown her unprecedented generosity by extending Begum Khaleda  Zia’s release from jail.  He said Begum Zia is now undergoing treatment by his preferred doctors and  hospital. Besides, the demand of sending Begum Zia abroad is political, not  health related, he added.