Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday challenged Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed to identify the political party he was referring to when he alleged that a party had links with foreign intelligence agencies allegedly encouraging unrest in Bangladesh.
Speaking in Parliament after the home minister’s statement under Rule 300, Shafiqur said Salahuddin had made several indirect remarks, including allegations that instigation was coming from across the border.
“I agree with him on that. However, there are allegations that a political party has an understanding with a foreign intelligence agency. Is there any connection between that party and the instigations? Which party is he referring to? I urge him to clarify,” said Shafiqur, who is also the ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
He said if the home minister was referring to a government-appointed individual holding secretary-level status and dealing with Jamaat-related affairs, he strongly challenged him to produce evidence.
The opposition leader also rejected any suggestion that Jamaat had held meetings with representatives of foreign intelligence agencies, saying the party had no history of meeting intelligence agencies of any country.
“We are a political party. We meet our political opponents and friends, if there are any. Why would we meet an intelligence agency?” he said.
Shafiqur alleged that those making such accusations had themselves met intelligence agencies at home and abroad and publicly expressed regret over their party’s past policies.
He urged them to examine their own conduct before making allegations against others.
Referring to remarks allegedly made by President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir before the parliamentary election, the Jamaat chief said he had publicly spoken about opening all doors and withdrawing cases against political opponents.
Shafiqur also rejected what he described as a misrepresentation of his remarks at a press conference on 12 August, saying he had not mentioned the Awami League in his 22-minute speech.
“The full video is still available. Anyone can watch it,” he said.
Without naming him directly, Shafiqur also criticised Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan, alleging that an individual had repeatedly made remarks about Jamaat throughout the day.
Calls for action against drug syndicates
Turning to law and order, the opposition leader called for an effective crackdown on drugs and questioned whether the government could tackle drug trafficking if members of the ruling party were involved in the trade.
He referred to allegations made by two senior lawmakers in Parliament that drug syndicates previously controlled by fascist forces were now being run by some ruling party leaders.
Another lawmaker, he said, had alleged that a major drug consignment had passed near the home minister’s residence.
Shafiqur further claimed that police officers who went to Kushtia on Tuesday to arrest drug traders had come under attack by ruling party activists. He said similar incidents were taking place in different parts of the country.
Referring to allegations that some ruling party members were taking money to rehabilitate fascist forces, he urged politicians to abandon the politics of mutual blame.
“I would not have spoken here if I had not been indirectly targeted. But since I was, I was compelled to respond,” he said.
Calling for unity against fascism, the opposition leader said Bangladesh must not be allowed to experience authoritarian rule again.
He urged the government to let the people judge who was facilitating the return of fascist forces through their weaknesses.
Shafiqur said the opposition wanted to see effective action on the issues raised in Parliament.
Questions government’s law-and-order assessment
Responding to the home minister’s claim that the law-and-order situation had improved, Shafiqur said politicians had been hearing for decades that the situation was better than before.
“For 52 years in politics, whenever concerns have been raised about law and order, we have been told that things are improving compared to the past. Yet, despite this repeated improvement, we have not become America or Britain. We remain Bangladesh, and we want to remain Bangladesh,” he said.
The Jamaat ameer added that Bangladesh should not come under the influence or domination of any other country.
Applauds decline in border killings
On the reported reduction in border killings from 22 in 2025 to 12 in 2026, Shafiqur appreciated the progress and gave the home minister “three rounds of applause”.
“I will give him as much applause as he wants if the number comes down to zero. Every life is extremely important to us. We want to see that commitment reflected in action,” he said, urging the government to take a firm stand on the issue.
He also responded to Salahuddin’s remarks that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had prevented the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) from pushing people into Bangladesh.
Shafiqur said he would have been more pleased if the minister had acknowledged the joint efforts of local people and BGB personnel in preventing such incidents.
Such recognition, he added, would encourage citizens to stand spontaneously alongside the country’s border force out of patriotism in the future.
