Approximately Tk 30 lakh crore was laundered from Bangladesh during the Awami League’s 15-year rule, an amount that could have built two dozen Padma bridges or 14 metro rail projects, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament.
“The festival of looting over the past 15 years has been revealed in the white paper. On average, $16 billion was laundered annually — enough to build dozens of Padma bridges or metro rails,” the home minister said on Thursday while participating in the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s speech. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed presided.
Addressing the opposition, the home minister said, “Instead of quarrelling over who is the greater freedom fighter, let us take initiatives to bring back the laundered money.”
He noted that bank takeovers have changed style but not stopped. “Previously banks were taken over by threatening with intelligence agencies. Now many are taking them over shouting ‘Naraye Takbir’. This takeover must stop.”
The minister claimed that BNP signed the July National Charter mainly for electoral interests, making compromises on many issues. “BNP will not tolerate any attempt to delay elections under the pretext of reform,” he said.
Urging the opposition to play a constructive role, Salahuddin Ahmed said, “True politics is to respect the people’s mandate by following parliamentary norms. The government is determined to move forward all reforms and electoral processes through discussions with stakeholders.”
Expressing concern over the abuse of freedom of speech, the minister said that although Article 39 of the constitution guarantees freedom, it is not unlimited.
“The way defamation is being spread using vulgar language from within and outside the country is destroying our social and religious harmony. This shameful trend in the name of freedom will not be allowed to go much further,” he warned, calling for strict action against those indulging in abusive language.
Recalling 19 years of political struggle, disappearances and exile, an emotional Salahuddin Ahmed said, “The democratic victory achieved through the blood of martyrs and the sacrifices of the people must not be tarnished.”
He highlighted the suffering of disappeared leaders’ families, saying, “Their children still wait by their windows for their fathers. To honour those tears, we must build a state where no one will be disappeared, no one’s rights will be violated.”
Regarding constitutional reform, the home minister said the process of forming a “Constitution Reform Council” bypassing the July National Charter is “fraudulent.”
“The current activities have no resemblance to the original document of the July Charter. Attempts to reform the constitution outside through alternative means, disregarding this parliament which holds the people’s mandate, are contradictory to the country’s legal framework,” he said.
He also claimed that when no referendum was held on 19 January 2026, the oath form for the Constitution Reform Council was prepared on blue paper without any authority – a clear violation of Article 148.
Salahuddin Ahmed said most provisions of the Fifteenth Amendment still exist, due to which trust in Almighty Allah is not reflected in the constitution. He asked whether the opposition still wants those controversial amendments to remain, calling on them to join the parliamentary committee to formulate a future-oriented constitution.
Describing BNP’s history as the history of introducing multi-party democracy and parliamentary politics, the home minister expressed strong determination to implement state reforms under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership in keeping with the global order.
