Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad on Wednesday accused the government of remaining indifferent to border killings and alleged ‘push-in’ attempts, claiming that the Home Minister’s recent remarks on the issue resembled statements made by Indian ministers.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Maghbazar, organised by the 11-party alliance, Azad alleged that the government was failing to defend Bangladesh’s national interests and was instead pursuing policies that favour foreign interests.
The Home Minister’s comments sound more like those of Indian ministers than a representative of Bangladesh, he said, while criticising the government's handling of border-related issues.
Referring to recent tensions along the frontier, Azad alleged that neighbouring authorities were not treating Bangladesh as an equal partner and said the continued killing of Bangladeshi nationals at the border constituted a grave violation of human rights.
He claimed that more than 50 push-in incidents and nearly 1,500 attempted push-ins had taken place over the past three months along various border points. According to him, most of these attempts were resisted due to the vigilance of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel and local residents.
Calling for a tougher government response, Azad warned that any attempt to force people into Bangladesh through the border would be resisted.
The Jamaat leader also expressed concern over the country's law-and-order situation, claiming that more than 51,000 criminal cases had been recorded nationwide during the past three months. He alleged that political violence had claimed the lives of activists from several parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, while accusing the government of remaining silent over such incidents.
Criticising the administration’s first 100 days in office, Azad said the government had failed to fulfil public expectations and had shown little progress in implementing its electoral commitments and reform agenda. He further alleged that authoritarian practices continued despite promises of change.
At the same event, National Citizens Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari rejected the Home Minister’s remarks on border issues, describing the condition of people stranded at border zero lines following push-in attempts as inhuman.
Patwari accused the government of failing to respond adequately to the humanitarian and security challenges emerging along the frontier. He also urged the Foreign Ministry to adopt a more assertive diplomatic approach and called for strengthening BGB's operational capacity to tackle border-related challenges effectively.
The 11-party alliance also voiced concern over rising electricity and fuel prices, saying recent policy decisions had placed ordinary citizens under mounting economic pressure.
Announcing a fresh programme of agitation, alliance leaders said demonstrations would be held in border districts on June 12, followed by a rally in Chattogram on June 15 and subsequent protest programmes in Dhaka.
They said their movement would continue both on the streets and inside parliament until their demands are addressed.
