Law Desk: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the government is not at all alarmed by various subversive activities in the capital—such as crude bomb explosions and the torching of buses—and assured that action will certainly be taken against those involved.
He made these remarks while speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday, September 20.
Incidents of crude bomb explosions and bus arson have been occurring at various locations in the capital over the past two days. When asked who was involved and how many arrests had been made, the Home Minister said, “We have heard that the ousted fascist forces, mafia elements, and the banned political party Awami League announced a so-called program in response to a verdict by the ICT (International Crimes Tribunal). It seems to be scheduled for today, the 20th—they called it a ‘lockdown’ or something similar. With that in mind, they engaged in some crude bomb-throwing in the capital—in one or two places under the cover of darkness.”
He added, “We have managed to arrest every single accused individual, along with their motorcycles. They are currently being interrogated. Those who threw a crude bomb in front of the High Court gate have also been arrested, as have those involved in the Jatrabari incident.”
Regarding the bus arson, he said, “They targeted a few buses—some abandoned and others parked overnight without drivers or helpers—and set fire to one or two of them. We are trying to identify the perpetrators by examining CCTV footage. Once identified, action will certainly be taken against them.”
Salahuddin Ahmed remarked, “These are their subversive activities; they were already anticipated. We are not paying much attention to them.”
When asked about the direction the law-and-order situation might take in the coming months—considering the ousted former Prime Minister’s message about returning in December, the recent incident in Gulshan, and today’s ‘lockdown’ program—the Home Minister said, “We heard the word ‘lockdown,’ but has any lockdown actually been visible here?” The nation is rejecting these things.’
He further added, ‘The Awami forces that claimed the lives of 1,400 people—committing massacres and genocide (a figure exceeding 2,000 according to UN and our own reports)—have neither apologized to the nation nor admitted their wrongdoing; instead, they are making noise from abroad. We are not at all alarmed by these malicious activities of theirs.’
The Home Minister stated, ‘This nation will never accept them politically in this country. Therefore, they are social outcasts. Whether they claim they will return in December or February—we pay no heed to such talk.’
Additionally, when asked whether the Awami League was capitalizing on the opposition’s long march or seizing the opportunity to take to the streets themselves, the Home Minister said, ‘We pay close attention when the opposition criticizes. The opposition has conducted a long march with certain demands; they are certainly entitled to do so. This is part of democratic culture; they will carry out their programs. Our responsibility is to cooperate and ensure they can do so peacefully. We have done that.’
He continued, ‘They held a long march in Chattogram; there were no accidents, no violence, and no clashes anywhere. Yesterday, they held a long march from Dhaka to the northern region, and it was peaceful. They delivered their speeches; they may have various demands, but if the public supports those demands, then the people will speak up.’
The Home Minister remarked, ‘Elections will be held in five years in accordance with rules and regulations and the democratic process; we will see then whom public opinion favors. I have no comment on this matter at present.’
The Prime Minister is set to attend the UN General Assembly session. When asked if the unrest that has persisted for a week leading up to her departure portrays Bangladesh internationally as a chaotic nation, the Home Minister replied, ‘The Prime Minister’s participation in the UN General Assembly is an annual event; she is attending it. As Prime Minister, she will deliver a speech on behalf of Bangladesh. These events have no connection to that.’
He added, ‘Moreover, the Awami fascist forces have been doing this for the past two years. This is a continuation.’ “You yourselves should find out whether there is any link to the opposition party’s programs; I do not wish to comment on that matter.”
Regarding the demands raised by the opposition to resolve the oil, gas, and electricity crises, he said, “As for the demands put forward by the opposition to address the oil, gas, and electricity shortages—they sought a discussion in Parliament, and we held extensive discussions. They wanted a committee formed; a committee comprising members from both the opposition and the ruling party was indeed constituted, and they provided recommendations. So, the matter should have ended right there.”
