, March 23 -- Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday warned that any form of mob violence would be dealt with firmly.

Referring to a recent incident of vandalism at a petrol pump, he said such acts of mob formation and violence would not be tolerated.

"We will not allow mob situations to develop. Any such attempts will be dealt with strictly," he said while addressing a programme following the inauguration of the re-excavation of the Neha River in Sadar upazila of Thakurgaon under a nationwide initiative to excavate and re-excavate rivers, canals and other waterbodies.

Calling for transparency and proper implementation of the canal excavation programme, Fakhrul said around 20...