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Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said he and other ministers would resign if the prime minister deems it necessary given the current climate.
In response to a journalist’s question about the possibility of resignations of the ministers as demanded by the student protesters, he said, “If the situation requires it and if [PM] Sheikh Hasina believes it is necessary, we will do what’s required for the country,” as per bdnews24.com reports.
Regarding the declaration of a one-point demand for the government's resignation at the Anti-discrimination Student Movement rally on Saturday, he said: “This is no longer part of the quota reform movement. It has shifted from a student issue to a political one.”
Following a meeting with law enforcement officials at the Secretariat on Saturday, the minister announced a new timing easing the curfew in Dhaka and three other adjacent districts.
The relaxation has been extended by two additional hours, now from 6 am to 9 pm. This schedule will continue until further notice.
“Those who are misleading and misguiding the students are responsible for this shift.”
Asked about the planned 'non-cooperation' programme by the student platform on Sunday, the minister said the authorities do not intend to thwart the movement.
“We do not wish to suppress the people’s involvement in the movement.”
He said all demands of the protesters had been met and that actions had been taken against police officers in Rangpur.
He urged the students to return to their respective fields.
In response to concerns about potential attacks during the protests, Asaduzzaman said: “If someone attacks you, will you just sit back? Both law enforcers and citizens have the right to self-defence.”
When he was asked about UNICEF's report of '32 children killed in the protests, the minister said: "The term 'child' is not being used correctly.
An 18-year-old is considered an adolescent, not a child.”
“No child, as defined, has died. Some adolescents might have been killed; they were used as shields during the protests."