Home minister slams 'shadow cabinet', cites Tk30 lakh crore siphoned
He said around Tk30 lakh crore was laundered during Awami League era, which could build 24 Padma bridges or 14 metro rail systems.
Home minister Salauddin Ahmed today (30 April) told parliament about Tk30 lakh crore siphoned abroad during the Awami League era, criticised 'shadow cabinet' politics, and warned against delaying elections, while urging recovery of laundered funds.
Speaking on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech in parliament, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair, he said a white paper revealed large-scale looting over the past 15 years. On average, $16 billion was siphoned abroad annually, enough to build dozens of Padma bridges or metro rails.
He said around Tk30 lakh crore was laundered, which could build 24 Padma bridges or 14 metro rail systems. Addressing the opposition, he urged focusing on recovering stolen money instead of debating who contributed more to the Liberation War.
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On bank takeovers, he said earlier such acts were done using fear of intelligence agencies, while now some use religious slogans. He stressed that looting must stop regardless of method.
He warned that any attempt to delay elections in the name of reforms would not be tolerated by BNP. The party had signed the July national charter with compromises for elections, he said, questioning why controversial constitutional provisions, including those related to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's image and speeches, remain. BNP would not accept any unconstitutional directives or formulas outside the charter, he added.
The minister said the current position followed a long struggle from 2009 to 2024 and urged not to undermine that history. He said focusing only on "politics of ideology" while ignoring past economic damage would not help progress.
He called on the opposition to act responsibly and respect public mandate, adding reforms and elections would proceed through stakeholder consultations.
Expressing concern over misuse of freedom of speech, he said Article 39 ensures rights but not without limits. He warned against abusive and defamatory language harming social and religious harmony, and urged legal steps to curb such practices.
He also criticised attempts to use the spirit of the July uprising for "political business" and mocked the opposition's 'shadow cabinet', saying it may offer the comfort of acting like ministers but lacks real responsibility.
