Jamaat MP asked to leave party by people identifying as intelligence agency members

A member of parliament (MP) of Jamaat-e-Islami has allegedly been asked to leave the party by individuals identifying themselves as members of an intelligence agency. Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman raised this allegation in Parliament on Tuesday, on the second day of the fourth session of the 13th National Parliament.

Speaking in Parliament on a point of order about the effectiveness of intelligence agencies along with law enforcement agencies amid the country's recent situation, the Jamaat Amir said, "Intelligence personnel are now active in harassing opposition party members in various places. Just now one MP said that someone from an intelligence office called him and told him to leave Jamaat. I told him this could be fake, or it could be real. We will record this (phone) number and give it to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Let them see who it is. Does any intelligence member at all have the responsibility and right to say this? This is an audacity. Are we again going back to that dark era of 15 and a half years?"

The opposition leader expressed deep concern over incidents of continuous sabotage, attacks, vandalism, and arson in various parts of the country.

Questioning the government's role in controlling the situation, he said, "If the government fails to deal with the law and order situation, the opposition will not sit idle. However, the government must fulfill its responsibilities. There are precedents of political parties working together in national crises in the past as well."

Shafiqur Rahman said, "Over the past few days, one sabotage incident after another has occurred in various areas of the country. Attacks are taking place in front of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) headquarters, the Special Branch (SB) headquarters, and police stations. An undesirable situation has been created at Dhaka University for several consecutive days. Most recently, two people were injured there today (Tuesday) as well."

Questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, he said, "A young soldier lost his life while taking part in an operation against terrorists in the hill tracts. The situation centering on Sajek Valley is also unstable. Police vehicles have been attacked and set on fire multiple times in Gopalganj. Along with attacks, vandalism, and looting at the ruling party's office, there are also allegations of isolated attacks on opposition leaders and activists in various places."

According to him, "Despite so many incidents, clear information is not available about whom the forces arrested and from where. Even though ordinary people detained some individuals and handed them over to law enforcement agencies, effective steps taken on the agencies' own initiative are not visible. Questions have arisen in people's minds about their effectiveness. Although we expected a clear statement from the home minister on this matter from the first day of Parliament, it was not available."The Jamaat Amir also criticized contradictory statements by responsible government figures regarding political reconciliation with the Awami League. He said, "These statements are creating confusion among the people."