'Won't allow Fascist AL to return', Salahuddin assures Parliament

Drawing a parallel with Nazi Germany, he said, “Just as the Nazis could not return to Germany or engage in politics, the fascist Awami forces who fled following the mass uprising will never be able to return to Bangladesh.”

He made the remarks in a statement under Rule 300 in Parliament, calling for national unity to prevent attempts to create instability in the country.

The Home Minister also presented a comparative analysis of law and order indicators, covering February to October in 2025 and the same period in 2026, which he said demonstrated a clear improvement in the country's security situation.

Salahuddin sought the cooperation of all political parties, including the opposition, as well as citizens, to sustain and further improve law and order under the present democratic government.

He said various programmes, including demonstrations and hartals, were being planned from across the border under different names with the common objective of creating unrest in Bangladesh.

“We need national unity to collectively resist such attempts,” he said, recalling the unity forged during the anti-fascist democratic movement.

The minister urged members of both the treasury and opposition benches to remain united inside and outside Parliament to prevent the fallen fascist forces from regaining a foothold in the country.

Addressing the Leader of the Opposition, Salahuddin referred to a statement made at an event in Dhaka on 3 September 2024, when the opposition leader reportedly announced that cases would not be filed against those who had persecuted his party politically.

The minister, however, said the people did not consider it reasonable or acceptable to grant the Awami League unconditional forgiveness without an expression of regret, remorse or apology for the repression and persecution carried out during its 15-and-a-half-year rule.

Salahuddin also agreed with the opposition leader's observation that provocations were coming from across the border amid recent unrest.

He alleged that secret meetings between senior leaders of a political party and foreign agency officials in Dhaka had contributed to such provocations, adding that the public had become aware of these developments.

Referring to the 2004 incident in which a bus was set on fire with gunpowder in front of Hotel Sheraton in Dhaka, he alleged that arson was deeply rooted in the Awami League's political culture and history.

The minister further alleged that the fugitive former Awami League leader had repeatedly instructed party leaders over audio calls from across the border to prepare lists of July uprising participants and attack their homes.

He said threats had also been issued that the July fighters would soon be taught a severe lesson.

“But the Almighty may never give her that opportunity again,” he said.

Salahuddin said the government was committed to respecting international human rights law, as promised in the BNP's election manifesto, and had no intention of turning law enforcement agencies into repressive forces.

However, he warned that the government would not hesitate to take strict lawful action when necessary, depending on the situation.

He said law enforcement personnel had come under attack during demonstrations in different parts of the country, but had not engaged in activities that violated human rights.

The minister alleged that the fallen fascist forces were taking advantage of the government's restraint, believing they would not face enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings or torture in custody under the present administration.

“We will not retreat from our commitments to the people. Within the boundaries of human rights, we will foil all conspiracies aimed at creating unrest and sabotage,” he said.

He added that law enforcement agencies would take necessary measures during operations in accordance with their right to private defence.

Referring to incidents in Chattogram and elsewhere, Salahuddin said law enforcement officers had lost their lives and instructions had been issued to take lawful measures in accordance with the right to private defence.

On recent labour unrest, the minister alleged that the fallen fascist forces and their local allies had provoked workers and turned labour grievances into demonstrations.

He said the government had taken effective measures to address the situation.

Despite the formation of a wage board, he alleged, a section of people was attempting to create instability by provoking workers through local and national labour organisations, with substantial financial support coming from across the border.

He claimed the government had clear evidence of the involvement of fugitive ministers and MPs from the previous government in these efforts.

Salahuddin also alleged that the labour organisation of a political party represented in Parliament had been leading demonstrations in different areas under its banner, with its leaders instructing activists to continue the movement at any cost. He said videos of such instructions had gone viral on social media.

The Home Minister said a list of top drug traders across the country had been prepared and operations to arrest them were continuing at different levels.

Regarding a meeting organised by former Awami League MP Ranjit Sarkar, he said the government was coordinating with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to establish how he had entered the area.

A case had been filed in connection with the incident, and seven people who attended the meeting had already been arrested, he said, adding that joint operations were under way to apprehend the other accused, reports UNB.