Opposition Jamaat MPs on Tuesday expressed their strong resentment in parliament over the arrest of Sawda Sumi, a woman from Bhola, who was reportedly detained for commenting on the ongoing fuel crisis on Facebook.
Rafiqul Islam Khan, an opposition MP, voiced his anger during the parliamentary session, calling the arrest a ‘foreshadowing of a fascist government.’ He issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate release of Sumi and withdrawal of the case within the day.
Speaking under the point of order with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair, Rafiqul Islam Khan said, “The police arrested a woman named Sawda Sumi for her Facebook post. It is claimed that her arrest and the case were filed ‘on orders from above.’ My question is—who exactly are they referring to by ‘orders from above’?”
He then urged the government, through the Speaker, to act swiftly, stating that the woman must be freed and the case dismissed by the end of the parliamentary working day. He also emphasised that such actions hinted at the rise of a fascist government, asking, “But this government claims to be democratic, so why can’t people speak?”
In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad acknowledged the concern but ruled that the matter would not be accepted as a point of order, as the parliamentary rules had not been properly cited. However, he assured the House that, “Since the opposition leader raised this issue and the opposition contacted me about it, I will make efforts to resolve the matter.”
He further expressed his disagreement with the use of ultimatums in such a manner, saying, “It is not appropriate to give such demands as if on the highway outside Parliament. If necessary, bring it forward in the form of a proposal.” Speaker Ahmad also pointed out that many individuals comment on government affairs on social media daily, and if all such matters were addressed in Parliament, no other business would be possible.
Nevertheless, the Speaker assured that the issue would be taken seriously, and the necessary steps would be initiated.
It was later confirmed that Sawda Sumi was released, with Ameer-e-Jamaat Dr Shafiqur Rahman sharing the news on his verified Facebook page at 12:46 pm, stating, “Alhamdulillah, Sister Sawda Sumi is free.”
