Sangsad Bhaban, Nov 15 (V7N) – Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today assured Parliament that the government would take tougher action against any assault committed on any lawmaker.
"Any attack on an honourable Member of Parliament or any assault on their life, property or belongings is highly condemnable and will be dealt with very seriously," he said.
The home minister came up with this assurance after National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Nusrat Tabassum (women seat-50) accused the government of suggesting that the home minister's statement in Parliament on Tuesday would influence the probe report on the fire incident at her village home in Khulna.
Urging Parliament to expunge the NCP lawmaker's statement, the home minister said, "It would be appreciated if you could intervene in this matter. Whatever discussions we hold in this august House must be conducted in parliamentary language. We do not make any statements here with the intention of influencing anyone."
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir-Bikram, however, declined to expunge the remarks, noting they did not amount to unparliamentary language.
Background of the Incident
The issue was raised in Parliament by opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, following which the Home Minister, citing primary investigation, stated that the fire was likely caused by an electrical short circuit rather than a petrol bomb attack.
Tabassum, an NCP joint convener and reserved-seat MP, alleged that Awami League-linked individuals had hurled petrol bombs at her property. She claimed a local Chhatra League leader had posted a threat message on Facebook about three hours before the incident.
The blaze broke out shortly after midnight on Wednesday at the house in Bagowan village of Daulatpur upazila, destroying seven of its ten rooms and killing two goats. Furniture, clothes, shoemaking materials and other belongings were also destroyed.
Probe Underway
Responding to the issue, the Home Minister said a probe committee was formed on Friday and asked to submit its report within three days, with the report scheduled for submission on Monday.
Referring to primary findings, he said law enforcement agencies did not find any signs of petrol bomb use and suspected the fire was likely caused by a short circuit — but stressed this was not a "conclusive" statement. "The real cause behind the fire would be revealed after the investigation," he added.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir-Bikram assured the NCP lawmaker that the Home Minister's statement was likely based on preliminary findings and that all matters would become clear after the probe report is submitted.
"I think it is not correct that the Home Minister in his statement confirmed that the house is abandoned and only two goats live in that house," the Speaker said, adding that the Home Minister had already asked the Superintendent of Police to visit the spot and directed concerned law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly.
"So, you wait please and let's see the result. As a house of a lawmaker has been attacked, we hope that the government and the law enforcement agencies will take necessary action," the Speaker said.
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