Staff Correspondent

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday assured Parliament that the government would not allow any conspiracy – whether hatched within the country or across the border – to destabilise Bangladesh to succeed, as opposition leaders expressed grave concern over what they described as an alarming deterioration in the law-and-order situation.

“I want to assure the country’s people that no conspiracy or blueprint, whether hatched inside the country, outside the border or jointly, will be allowed to be implemented here. We are all committed to this,” he said.

The minister made the remarks in response to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam on a point of order in the House.

The opposition leaders demanded a clear statement from the home minister on the recent incidents of violence, sabotage and attacks across the country, saying the people were increasingly worried about the law-and-order situation.

Salahuddin said some visible conspiracies had been underway over the last few days by the fallen fascist forces to destabilise the country.

Anyone living in the country with a minimum level of political awareness can understand their objectives, he said, alleging that the remnants of the fallen fascist forces were trying to become active inside the country with support from those who had fled and taken shelter across the border.

The minister said a blueprint had been drawn up, with investments from both home and abroad, to create unrest and instability in the country's export-oriented industries, which were a major source of foreign currency earnings. “The government has successfully thwarted that attempt,” he said.

He said law enforcement agencies had handled the situation with utmost patience and restraint without resorting to excessive force, although some of their members had sustained injuries.

Salahuddin alleged that the agencies had been repeatedly provoked to commit mistakes so that the fallen fascist forces and their local associates could exploit any such incident to create an issue.

“We did not give them that opportunity, remaining careful. We did not use excessive force. Our law enforcement agencies remain alert,” he said.

The minister said the government had held several rounds of meetings with factory owners, labour leaders and federations to resolve the situation, and all the stakeholders had agreed to cooperate.

He, however, alleged that some miscreants and associates of the fallen fascist forces, including a few factory owners, had attempted to create instability in the industrial sector.

“But they have failed. Our factory owners have been reassured. I want to assure the nation, factory owners, investors and international buyers from the floor of this Parliament that we will ensure an industry-friendly environment in the country,” Salahuddin said.

He warned that the government would firmly deal with any attempt to create unrest or instability in the industrial sector.

Regarding the strike called by the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League for Tuesday, the minister said such calls for a strike were occasionally seen on social media but had no visible impact on the streets.

He said seven crude bomb explosions had taken place across the country and four people had been caught red-handed in connection with the incidents.

Salahuddin said isolated incidents, such as a crude bomb explosion on the roof of a vehicle near the business faculty building of Dhaka University at night or setting fire to an unattended bus or vehicle, did not mean that the country's overall law-and-order situation had deteriorated.

He said he would make a detailed statement on the recent incidents in Parliament on Wednesday under Rule 300.

Earlier, raising the issue on a point of order, Shafiqur expressed deep concern over what he described as a continuous deterioration in law and order across the country over the last few days.

He mentioned crude bomb explosions at the Army Golf Club, in front of the Special Branch headquarters, at police station gates and at Dhaka University for three consecutive days.

The opposition leader also referred to the death of a young Army member during an operation against terrorists in the hill region along the border, recent tension centring on Sajek Valley, repeated attacks and arson targeting police vehicles in Gopalganj, attacks, vandalism and looting at ruling party offices, and scattered attacks on opposition activists in different areas.

He said he could see no improvement in the law-and-order situation and questioned what action law enforcement agencies had taken and whom they had arrested following the incidents. “We are witnessing a gradual and alarming deterioration in law and order. We see no signs of any improvement,” he said.

Shafiqur said the people were worried and anxious over the law-and-order situation. “The responsibility for this situation lies with the government and, particularly, the Ministry of Home Affairs,” he said.

The opposition leader demanded a clear statement from the home minister about the government's actions and measures to ensure public security.

He said the opposition did not want to fail in discharging its responsibilities and would not remain silent if the government failed to fulfil its duties.

“We want to see the government successfully discharge its responsibility. If the government seeks any cooperation from the opposition, we will sincerely and actively consider it,” Shafiqur said.

He also warned against any attempt to bring back fascism to Bangladesh, saying the people had ousted it through a mass uprising at the cost of lives and blood.

“No fascism can be given another opportunity in Bangladesh,” he said.

Nahid also expressed concern over the recent incidents, accusing the government of failing to maintain law and order and prevent sabotage.

He said unprecedented acts of terrorism, anarchy and sabotage had been taking place over the last two days, with the fallen fascist forces allegedly carrying out covert attacks in different places and setting fire to buses.

Nahid also referred to the reported death of a person, the attack on Hasib Al Islam, president of the Dhaka University unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti and one of the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, in Moulvibazar, crude bomb explosions at Dhaka University and vandalism at a BNP office.

He said the opposition had been pointing out the government's failure to address the law-and-order situation, particularly the failure of the Home Ministry, for the last seven months.

“We see the home minister very active in matters relating to constitutional amendments, but we do not see the same level of effort in ensuring law and order in the country,” the opposition chief whip said.

He also questioned how an Awami League lawmaker could return to the country, hold programmes and then leave again, while the government failed to prevent such activities.