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The Jatiya Sangsad witnessed another stormy session on Wednesday, with heated exchanges over fertiliser dealership appointments, the law-and-order situation and the political activities of the ousted Awami League.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed drew a comparison between ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Nazi Germany, declaring that the fascist forces who fled Bangladesh following the 2024 mass uprising would never be able to return to Bangladesh.
“The Nazis could not return to Germany, and the fascists will not return to Bangladesh,” he said.
The minister made the remarks in a statement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure on the law-and-order situation on the third day of the fourth session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.
He alleged that Hasina, whom he described as a fugitive leader convicted of crimes against humanity, was directing Awami League leaders from across the border through audio and video calls to prepare lists of participants in the 2024 mass uprising and set fire to their homes.
Referring to past violence during hartals called by the Awami League, Salahuddin alleged that the party had a history of setting buses on fire. He also accused a section of the former ruling party of attempting to foment unrest in the readymade garment sector by exploiting workers’ grievances, allegedly with financial support from across the border.
The government had evidence of the involvement of former ministers, lawmakers and party leaders in such activities, he claimed.
The minister also said the number of Bangladeshis killed along the border by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian nationals had declined from 22 during January-October 2025 to 12 in the corresponding period this year.
He said the government was committed to ensuring a safe Bangladesh while respecting national and international human rights standards. It did not want to turn law enforcement agencies into instruments of repression, but would not hesitate to take strict action in accordance with the law when necessary, he added.
Investigations into enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, murders, abductions, fabricated cases and killings during the 2024 mass uprising were continuing as part of the government's commitment to justice, he said.
Salahuddin also questioned whether alleged secret meetings between Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and foreign agencies had any connection with what he described as incitement from across the border.
His remarks prompted a strong response from Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, who rejected any suggestion that his party had dealings with foreign intelligence agencies.
Jamaat was a political organisation that held meetings with political opponents and allies, not intelligence agencies, he said.
Taking the floor immediately after the home minister, Shafiqur challenged several points in his statement and criticised his characterisation of political opponents. He also referred to Prime Minister's Political Secretary Rashed Khan as 'useless' (faltu), adding to the tension in the House.
The opposition leader further criticised the government's handling of law and order, raising concerns over drug trafficking and violence. Responding sarcastically to the minister's appeal for applause over a decline in reported killings, he said the opposition would applaud the government if it could bring the number of killings down to zero.
Fertiliser dealership appointments
Meanwhile, fertiliser dealer appointments triggered another heated exchange during the question-answer session.
Cumilla-4 MP Md Abul Hasnat alleged that the appointment process had been marred by political favouritism, nepotism and corruption.
He claimed that 28 of the newly appointed dealers were affiliated with the BNP and that 10 were wives, children or other relatives of party leaders. He further alleged that some MPs had recommended candidates in exchange for money and that relatives of lawmakers had secured dealerships.
Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid rejected the allegations of irregularities, saying the appointments had gone through a strict three-tier screening process involving committees at the upazila and district levels.
His response was repeatedly interrupted by opposition MPs, prompting Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal to intervene and urge members to maintain order. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni later dismissed the allegation that MPs had recommended candidates in exchange for money, describing it as false and unsupported by evidence.
Other parliamentary business
During the question-answer session, Land Minister Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Minu said his ministry had formed a central complaint management team to tackle corruption, middlemen and harassment at land offices.
A 24-hour call centre was operating through hotline 16122, while a dashboard-based monitoring system and digital complaint management facilities were being developed to strengthen accountability, he said.
Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan told the House that the government was considering expanding medical assistance and social security benefits for freedom fighters and their families. He said 99 freedom fighters in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria were receiving monthly allowances, while 13 freedom fighters or their families had been provided with houses under an existing housing project.
Constitutional Amendment Committee reconstituted
Parliament also reconstituted the special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendments. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, on behalf of the Leader of the House, proposed the names of 12 members, and the proposal was passed by voice vote.
The chief whip said five opposition members would be included in the proposed 17-member committee whenever the opposition wished. The ruling party would wait for the opposition to nominate its five representatives before submitting the committee's report, he added.