The government will not tolerate “mob culture” in the country and will enforce law to prevent such incidents, 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 responding to questions from journalists at an exchange of views at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon to mark 180 days of the government.

Asked about allegations that mob incidents continued after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and that law enforcement agencies remained largely inactive in dealing with such incidents, the adviser said he had no clear example of a recent incident of the kind 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, also a BNP Standing Committee member. Politics(Right)

He stressed that the country would be governed according to law and that the government would enforce it.

Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and another BNP Standing Committee member Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, who joined the discussion, said the extent of mob culture has declined significantly.

He said such a culture emerged partly because of political support and that there had often been an indirect political influence behind such incidents.

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

Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahadi Amin presented statistics on the government’s activities and achievements over the past 180 days.

The event was moderated by Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli. PM’s Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan, Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon also spoke at the programme.

Ministers and advisers responded to questions from journalists on various issues.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health SM Ziauddin Haider, Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Affairs Saimum Parvez and Chief Coordinator at the Prime Minister’s Office Prof SM Abdul Awal, among others, attended the programme.