Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that initially, Jamaat-Shibir terrorists maintained a low profile among the participants of the quota reform movement.

"But at a certain time, they came forward to the frontline dangerously," she added.

The prime minister made the comments during a meeting with Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh Gabriel Maria Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru at her official residence Ganabhaban.

PM’s Press Secretary, M Nayeemul Islam Khan, briefed reporters after the meeting.

The prime minister said that the terrorists specifically targeted structures symbolizing the government's achievements and efforts for public welfare.

She mentioned several key infrastructures, including the Covid hospital, metro rail, expressway, Setu Bhaban, disaster management building, and data centre.

"All of our development symbols, which provided comfort and convenience to the people, became their targets of destruction," she stated.

Talking about the army deployment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that army personnel showed patience at the highest level on the ground.
 
She said according to the information available to her, around 21 members of her party, Awami League, have been killed in the mayhem.

The prime minister emphasized that she is providing assistance to all those who were killed or injured, regardless of their party affiliation.

"I am not interested in their party affiliation at all while I am helping them," she said.

Addressing the demands of the quota reform protesters, she pointed out that the quota system was not in effect at the height of the protests due to a Supreme Court status quo.

“What would be the logical ground of their demand at that time?” she questioned.

The prime minister assured that the government is taking effective steps to support the families of those killed and injured, including financial assistance and free medical treatment.

Ambassador Chinchetru appreciated the military deployment and curfew imposed to maintain peace and prosperity. “Everything is gradually improving now,” he noted, according to PM’s press secretary.

“I saw everything on television but could not understand properly due to the language difference… From the newspaper, I was aware of the destruction due to the mayhem,” he said.

The Spanish ambassador, having visited some vandalized sites with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, acknowledged the significant development Bangladesh has made over the last 16 years.

“The development in the last 16 years is a real thing that anybody can verify,” he was quoted as saying, adding that the budget allocations for education, health, and social safety nets reflect the government’s commitment to the people’s welfare.

“In many countries these kind of budget support do not exist,” the ambassador said.

Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin was also present at the meeting.