Shafiqur challenges Salahuddin over foreign intelligence agency link claim

Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday challenged Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed to clarify which political party he was referring to when he suggested that a party had links to foreign intelligence agencies allegedly encouraging unrest in Bangladesh.

Speaking in Parliament following the minister’s statement under Rule 300, he said Salahuddin had made some indirect remarks, including an allegation that instigations were coming from across the border.

“I agree with him on that. However, there are allegations that a political party has an understanding with a foreign intelligence agency. Is there any connection between that party and the instigations? Which party is he referring to? I urge him to clarify,” said Shafiqur, also the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami ameer.

He said if the home minister was referring to a government-appointed individual holding secretary-level status and dealing with Jamaat-related affairs, he strongly challenged him to produce evidence.

The opposition leader also rejected any suggestion that Jamaat had met representatives of foreign intelligence agencies, saying the party had no history of holding meetings with any country's intelligence agency.

“We are a political party. We meet our political opponents and friends, if there are any. Why would we meet an intelligence agency?” he said.

Shafiqur alleged that those making such accusations had themselves met intelligence agencies at home and abroad and publicly expressed regret over their party's past policies.

He urged them to examine their own conduct before making allegations against others.

Referring to remarks allegedly made by current President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir before the parliamentary election, the Jamaat chief said he had publicly spoken about opening all doors and withdrawing cases against political opponents.

He also rejected what he described as a misquotation of his remarks at a press conference on August 12, saying he had never mentioned the Awami League in his 22-minute speech. “The full video is still available. Anyone can watch it,” he said.

Without naming him directly, Shafiqur also criticised Prime Minister's Political Assistant Rashed Khan, alleging that an individual had been making repeated remarks about Jamaat throughout the day.

Turning to law and order, he called for an effective crackdown on drugs and questioned whether the government could tackle the problem if members of the ruling party were involved in drug trafficking.

The opposition leader referred to allegations made by two senior lawmakers in Parliament that drug syndicates previously controlled by fascist forces were now being run by some ruling party leaders.

Another lawmaker, he said, had alleged that a major drug consignment passed near the home minister's residence.

Shafiqur also claimed that police officers who went to Kushtia on Tuesday to arrest drug traders had come under attack by ruling party activists, saying similar incidents were taking place in different parts of the country.

Referring to allegations that some ruling party members were taking money to rehabilitate fascist forces, he urged politicians to abandon the politics of mutual blame. “I would not have spoken here if I had not been indirectly targeted. But since I was, I was compelled to respond,” he said.

Calling for unity against fascism, the opposition leader said the country should not be allowed to suffer from authoritarian rule again, urging the government to leave it to the people to judge who was allowing the return of fascist forces through their weaknesses.

He said the opposition wanted to see effective action taken on the issues raised in Parliament.

Responding to the home minister's claim that the law-and-order situation had improved, Shafiqur said politicians had been hearing for decades that the situation was better than in the past.

“For 52 years in politics, whenever concerns have been raised about law and order, we have been told that things are improving compared to the past. Yet, despite this repeated improvement, we have not become America or Britain. We remain Bangladesh, and we want to remain Bangladesh,” he said.

The Jamaat ameer added that Bangladesh should not come under the influence or domination of any other country.

On the reduction in border killings from 22 in 2025 to 12 in 2026, he appreciated the progress and gave the home minister “three rounds of applause”.

“I will give him as much applause as he wants if the number comes down to zero. Every life is extremely important to us. We want to see that commitment reflected in action,” Shafiqur said, urging the government to take a firm stand on the issue.

He also responded to Salahuddin’s remarks that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had prevented the push-in of people by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), saying he would have been happier had the minister acknowledged the joint efforts of the people and the BGB.

Such recognition, the opposition leader said, would encourage citizens to stand spontaneously alongside the country's paramilitary force out of patriotism in the future. -UNB