They want to fish in muddy waters, says Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has claimed that the ousted Awami League is trying to create instability in the country. He also hinted at its collusion with the opposition party.

"They want to fish in muddy waters," he told journalists at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Sunday.

At the outset, the Home Minister said that Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, was celebrated this time more peacefully than what it had been in the past 17-18 years.

"For the past 15 to 17 years, various unpleasant incidents, terrorist activities, and attempts to destroy religious harmony centering on Durga Puja were seen, but the incumbent government was able to free the country from that culture of misdeeds."

He said that this time the highest number of 33,851 pandals and mandaps in Bangladesh's history hosted Durga Puja.

A journalist wanted to know the government's position on the announcement by Sheikh Hasina, who lost power in the mass uprising two years ago and has taken refuge in India, about returning.

Salahuddin said, "We have also heard about it via social media. However, we have sent several requests through the Foreign Ministry to the neighboring country to get her back. Our position is clear."

He then said, "The misguided efforts of fascist forces have been ongoing from the beginning. They want to create instability in Bangladesh. They want to fish in muddy waters."

Stating that the government is also endeavoring to thwart that attempt, the Home Minister said, "We will not allow any subversive activities to take place in Bangladesh."

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recently said that intelligence information had been found about the opposition party's collusion with the ousted force.

When asked about the matter, the Home Minister said, "You have already received our comment on this matter."

Regarding the recent attack on police in Gopalganj, he said, "At a place in a union of Gopalganj Sadar, I think Kheyaghat, some young people of the banned organizations Chhatra League and Jubo League had tried to bring out a procession. A patrol police team rushed there; they were fewer in number. That is why they came under attack. Later, action was taken against them."

Regarding the ongoing unrest in Sajek of Rangamati, the Home Minister said that due to internal conflicts and struggles over dominance among multiple small armed groups there, some tension is created every year during the tourism season. However, the situation is now fully under control.

He said that alongside the Bangladesh Army and police force taking necessary steps to maintain peace and order, local leadership including Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, Member of Parliament from the hill region, has been continuing political discussions.

Regarding an operation at the residence of an Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police during the Puja holidays and 85 people being sentenced through mobile courts, the Home Minister said that regardless of the accused officer's identity, he has already been attached, and departmental cases along with other legal proceedings will continue against him in accordance with existing laws.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin said that the next national election will be held under a caretaker government through constitutional amendment.

Highlighting the existence of political consensus on the matter, he said that even if there is a court ruling, the caretaker government system will have to be upheld through Parliament. It will be reinstated in the Constitution through constitutional amendment.