Real perpetrators must be identified, punished: Fakhrul on Netrokona MP attack

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday told Parliament that those responsible for the attack on Jamaat lawmaker Masum Mustafa must be identified and brought to justice.

“The real perpetrators must be identified and punished,” he said, responding to concerns raised by Masum Mustafa, who sought security for himself, his family and party activists in his Netrakona-5 constituency.

Describing the incident as “very unfortunate,” Fakhrul said the government strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep concern. 

He added that Leader of the House, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has assured that a fair investigation will be conducted.

The minister also informed Parliament that nine people have already been arrested in connection with the incident and that further action will follow based on the investigation.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, who was presiding over the session, also termed the attack on a sitting member of Parliament as unfortunate. 

He said the House was united in demanding strict action against those responsible and urged patience until the investigation concludes.

Earlier, Masum Mustafa told Parliament that he came under attack on Friday evening in Purbadhala, where his vehicle was vandalised and he was surrounded at a filling station. 

He said he had stopped there due to heavy traffic and later went to a nearby mosque for Maghrib prayers.

During that time, a group he described as attackers posing as political activists vandalised his vehicle. 

He alleged that the group later attempted to locate him inside the mosque, threatened to kill him and tried to force their way in with weapons. Worshippers reportedly resisted and secured the doors, preventing further escalation.

The lawmaker claimed that the attackers intended to assassinate him and warned that the situation could have turned fatal without intervention. 

He appealed to the Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to ensure adequate security for him, his family and his supporters in his constituency.

SH