The government has said it will take the strictest legal action against those involved in a cocktail explosion at a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally in Savar. Law Minister Asaduzzaman gave this assurance on behalf of the government after the matter was raised on a point of order during Tuesday’s (July 7) session of parliament.
NCP member secretary Akhter Hossain raised the issue on a point of order during the session, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. He laid out details of the attack during the party’s Monday march program in Savar and demanded that the opposition’s right to hold political programs unimpeded be ensured.
In his remarks to parliament, Akhter Hossain alleged that the party’s month-long march program is ongoing nationwide through July. As part of it, an inaugural rally was held in Savar on Monday, attended by opposition chief whip Nahid Islam and other central leaders. Just before the leaders took the stage, power to the venue was cut. A cocktail explosion then occurred during the speeches, injuring several people and causing widespread panic among those present. As the situation worsened, party leaders and activists cut the program short and went to the police station to file a complaint.
The NCP leader further claimed that whenever programs are held centered on the “July mass uprising,” various quarters deliberately obstruct them. He informed parliament that a cocktail explosion had previously occurred in front of their party office as well. Noting that the opposition has the same constitutional right to hold meetings and rallies as the ruling party, he asked what steps the government is taking regarding the Savar incident.
Following these allegations, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed advised submitting a formal notice on the matter. Law Minister Asaduzzaman then sought the floor to speak. The Speaker initially questioned why the law minister would speak on a matter under the home ministry’s jurisdiction in the home minister’s absence, but later allowed him to proceed.
Given the floor, Law Minister Asaduzzaman essentially clarified the government’s position on behalf of the home minister. Saying the government is treating the MP’s allegation with great seriousness, he said: “If anyone is found involved in this, the government will take as strict legal action as possible against them, transparently.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report