Jamaat criticises home minister's remarks on Shibir leader, uproar erupts in parliament

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly criticised the home minister's remarks in parliament regarding a leader of its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, triggering heated exchanges and disorder in the House. 

During a statement under Rule 300 in parliament today (14 June), Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed referred to a general diary filed over the disappearance of Mohammad Jisan Mia Pradhan, assistant international affairs secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, and outlined the developments that followed.

The minister said the general diary was lodged by a man named Russell Ahmed regarding the disappearance of Jisan, who went missing from Cumilla on Thursday (11 June). However, police investigations later found that

Jisan had developed a romantic relationship with a woman he met through social media. 

According to the minister, the woman became pregnant after being subjected to repeated rape under the promise of marriage and Jisan later forced her to take medication to terminate the pregnancy.

The home minister further stated that although their marriage had been scheduled for 12 June, Jisan went into hiding on the night of 11 June to avoid the wedding. 

Police later recovered him from Laksam. The woman subsequently filed a case against Jisan and three others on charges of rape and abortion. 

Following Jisan's arrest in the case, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir expelled him, citing preliminary evidence of a "romantic relationship" with the complainant.

Salahuddin said two other accused had already given confessional statements before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. 

He also said several individuals had attempted to portray the disappearance differently on verified Facebook pages and shift responsibility onto the government.

"The actual facts need to be placed before the nation and that is why I have raised the matter in this House," he said.

Immediately after the statement, Deputy Opposition Leader Syed Mohammad Abdullah Taher strongly objected, alleging that the home minister had used the opportunity to make a politically motivated statement targeting a political party.

Taher said bringing an unresolved and controversial matter before parliament in such a manner was unprecedented in Bangladesh's parliamentary history.

"It appears that the home minister intentionally raised the issue to condemn a particular party," he said.

He also questioned Jisan's whereabouts and asked why journalists were not being allowed to speak with either Jisan or the complainant. 

He further questioned whether there was an attempt to manufacture a narrative around the incident.

His remarks immediately triggered heated exchanges between lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches, with members from both sides rising from their seats and shouting at one another, throwing the House into disorder.

As tensions escalated, Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal repeatedly urged lawmakers to return to their seats, reminding them that Rule 300 does not permit questions or debate following a ministerial statement.

Amid the uproar, the speaker said the home minister's remarks would be reviewed and any unparliamentary comments could be removed from the official record.

Order was gradually restored in the House after the speaker's intervention, allowing proceedings to resume with a general discussion on the supplementary budget for fiscal year 2025-26.