To improve the fate of people in the Haor region devastated by natural disasters and hailstorms, Kishoreganj-4 MP Fazlur Rahman proposed forming a separate “Haor Ministry” comprising 35 districts.
The MP made the demand while taking part in the discussion on the President’s address during the National Parliament session on Tuesday, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad presiding.
With an emotional voice, Fazlur Rahman highlighted the plight of Haor farmers, saying, “The rain and hailstorms in the Haor region are submerging all the crops. Only one crop is produced there. For 12 months, these people must depend on others for food and clothing.”
Drawing the attention of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he said, “I request our leader, the parliamentary leader and prime minister, and all concerned ministers – please save the Haor region this time.”
“To properly save the Haor region, a Haor ministry comprising 35 districts must be formed,” he added.
‘July Uprising not comparable to Liberation War’
The veteran politician strongly criticised comparing the July mass uprising with the great Liberation War.
“The Liberation War and the 5 August uprising are not the same. Just as a hill cannot be compared to the Himalayan mountain, comparing the 5 August uprising with the Liberation War is also unjust,” he said.
“I am not belittling the warriors of 5 August. I pay respect to those who were martyred. I myself was also in this movement. But August was not a revolution; it was a mass uprising.”
He said the Liberation War and the struggle for independence did not happen in one day. “From the anti-British movement to Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Maulana Bhashani, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid the foundation for the independence struggle. Standing on that foundation, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman declared independence in 1971.”
Demanding proper investigation and trial of police station looting and police killings across the country after 5 August, Fazlur Rahman said, “The incidents after 5 August should by no means receive legal indemnity.”
“The indemnity given regarding police is one kind up to 5 August. But after the uprising, so many police stations were looted, so many police officers were killed — they were not fighting then, they were innocent. Where did all those weapons go?”
Drawing the Home Minister’s attention, he said, “If any police killings, police station looting, or weapons looting has taken place after August 5, there should be an investigation, there should be a trial.”
Noting that police personnel also have human rights, the MP said, “Whatever police did before 5 August, they did as a state force. If they did wrong, let that be tried. But I think they are also citizens of this country, they also have families, their children have also become orphans. The state should at least go to them and say, ‘However your child died, we will look after you.'”
