Opposition lawmakers have accused the government of failing to prevent a series of incidents involving arson, crude bomb explosions and attacks across the country, demanding an explanation from the home minister over the role of law enforcement agencies.
Rejecting the allegations, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament that the country’s law and order situation was fully under control.
The exchange took place during a point of order at the Parliament on Tuesday, with Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal in the chair.
Salahuddin said four people had been caught red-handed and handed over to police in connection with seven crude bomb explosions across the country.
He said isolated crude bomb blasts and incidents of abandoned vehicles being set on fire at night could not be considered evidence of a deterioration in the overall law and order situation. The number of murders had also declined compared with the same period last year, he added.
The minister alleged that the ousted Awami League government’s associates were conspiring to destabilise the country, with support from individuals who had taken shelter across the border.
He said the identities of those involved in the incidents and those providing them with support would be made public.
Salahuddin also alleged that a blueprint had been drawn up abroad to create unrest in the country’s leading export and foreign currency-earning industry.
The government had thwarted the attempt, he said, praising law enforcement agencies for handling the situation patiently without excessive force.
Earlier, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said the country had witnessed widespread sabotage and disorder over the past two days.
He cited incidents of buses being set on fire, crude bomb explosions at Dhaka University, an attack on Jatiya Chhatra Shakti president and Anti-Discrimination Student Movement coordinator Hasib Al Islam, and an attack on a BNP office.
Nahid accused the government of failing to address the situation over the past seven months. He also criticised the lack of visible progress in constitutional amendments and political reforms.
He alleged that former Awami League lawmakers were moving around freely and getting opportunities to flee abroad.
Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman also raised concerns over several security incidents, including cocktail explosions at Army Golf Club, an attack on the gate of the Special Branch headquarters and repeated explosions at Dhaka University over three consecutive days.
He also mentioned the killing of an army member during an anti-terror operation in a border area, an attack on a police vehicle in Gopalganj and attacks on opposition activists.
Questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, Shafiqur asked why the Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, police and Armed Police Battalion had failed to take effective measures to maintain security.
He alleged that local residents, rather than law enforcement agencies, had caught three or four suspects and handed them over to police.
Referring to the ban on Chhatra League, Shafiqur questioned its effectiveness, asking what purpose the ban served if members of the organisation could still hold public processions carrying weapons.
