Rumeen slams deterioration in law and order situation

Speaking on a notice of urgent public importance under Rule 71, Rumeen who elected from Brahmanbaria-2 constituency criticised the absence of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed from the House while raising the issue.

“The Home Minister was expected to be present today, but I can see that his seat is empty. Nevertheless, I will proceed in his absence,” she said.

Drawing on statistics from a report by Transparency International Bangladesh, Rumeen claimed that the crime rate had risen sharply during the government's first 100 days.

According to the figures she cited, the country recorded 605 murders, 294 robberies, 90 dacoities and 196 abductions in March and April alone. She also said there had been 129 attacks on police personnel and 2,214 incidents of theft during the same period.

Highlighting the plight of women and children, the MP told Parliament that 3,496 incidents of violence against women and children had been reported. Among them, between 78 and 102 women were allegedly raped, while 30 to 36 cases involved gang rape. The number of child rape victims ranged between 49 and 71, she added.

“These statistics clearly demonstrate how fragile and alarming the law and order situation has become over the past three months,” she said.

Rumeen argued that the government's overall success or failure depended largely on two sectors—economy and law enforcement.

“Fifty per cent of the government's success or failure will depend on the economy and law and order, while the remaining 50 per cent will depend on other ministries,” she said.

During the discussion, Cumilla-2 lawmaker Mohammad Selim Bhuiyan said around 600,000 teachers and employees had not received their salaries ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

He alleged that salaries for May remained unpaid even on June 8.

“It is unacceptable that teachers are not receiving their salaries under this government. During previous administrations, salaries were usually paid before Eid,” he said, demanding action against those responsible.

At the same time, he thanked the government for taking steps to allocate funds for private teachers' retirement benefits and welfare trusts.

Pabna-3 MP Mohammad Ali Azgar urged the government to construct a bridge over the Gumani River at the Mirzapur-Astamanisha ferry point in Chatmohar upazila, saying thousands of people, including students, cross the river daily at considerable risk.

He noted that several bridge and road projects announced by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in 2002 had yet to be implemented.

Cumilla-6 MP Monirul Haque Chowdhury called for the reopening of the Cumilla Airport, originally established during the Second World War.

He said the district, with a population of around 6.5 million and a large expatriate community, would benefit significantly from the airport's revival, particularly foreign returnees, investors and patients seeking medical treatment.

Claiming that some airport facilities remain operational and continue to generate revenue, he urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism to end what he described as neglect and discrimination towards Cumilla.

Nilphamari-2 MP Al Faruk Abdul Latif proposed the construction of a bridge connecting Jharbari in Birganj upazila and Joyganj in Khansama upazila, saying it would substantially reduce travel distance between Nilphamari and Thakurgaon districts.

He also advocated upgrading the road linking Nilphamari with Rangpur through Kishoreganj upazila to improve regional connectivity.

Meanwhile, Cox’s Bazar-3 MP Lutfur Rahman Kajol highlighted the lack of administrative infrastructure in the newly established Eidgaon upazila.

He said that despite being declared an upazila in 2021, most government offices, including the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, continue to operate from rented premises, discouraging officials from serving there.

Kajol also pointed to the absence of a fire service station, adequate healthcare facilities and other key administrative structures, calling for urgent infrastructure development in the remittance-dependent and economically important upazila, reports UNB.