NCP MP Hannan Masud seeks security for his life, properties
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has vowed that the government will take decisive action against those behind the attack.
National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud has sought security for his life and properties.
"I was about to face a potential attack while returning from Hatiya, the day before yesterday", said the opposition lawmaker today (20 April) while responding to a notice in the parliament session.
Although the notice was not accepted, the Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal asked the home minister to take necessary actions in this regard.
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Hannan Masud said he was elected from a remote island where land grabbers and pirates rule. He came under direct attacks at least five times before and after the election.
He also reminded that an Imam, who was brutally attacked for praying for Abdul Hannan Masud at a mosque, has been undergoing treatment for a month and a half.
Expressing his anger, he continued as saying, "Despite there are videos and evidence of the terrorists who tried to chop me with weapons, they are still kept under political shelters. They are constantly giving me death threats through Facebook live to prevent me from entering my area."
He questioned, "If I am not safe even as a member of parliament, what is the condition of the common people?" My car still bears the marks of the terrorists' attack and the identified accused who hacked a BTV journalist are also roaming around in public."
He sought a parliamentary investigation into the incidents as well as strong government intervention to ensure the safety of himself and his party activists.
Earlier, Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal said the notice given by Abdul Hannan Masud MP to protect his life, property, honour and dignity is a significant matter.
The notice stated that he was fatally attacked on 25 February when he went to visit the victims of the post-election violence, and he is still facing life threats online with obscene language following his speech in the parliament on 29 March.
The Deputy Speaker also said such attacks and threats against a member of parliament are not desirable under any circumstances.
Although it is not possible to accept the notice due to technical limitations of Rules 165(2) and 165(4) of the Rules of Procedure, the matter is still very sensitive.
In this context, he gave specific instructions to the home minister, who was present in the session, to take effective and speedy legal action regarding the allegations raised by the MP.
Following the instructions of the Deputy Speaker, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said in his speech, "The issue raised by lawmaker Hannan Masud is being viewed with great importance as I have carefully listened to every point of the MP's speech. If these incidents of attacks are true, it is very sad and the government will not spare the criminals."
Suggesting Hannan Masud MP to file a case or a general diary with the concerned police station, the minister said that if a complaint is filed, the police will take strict action immediately."
Not only should this MP, if any other member of the House is a victim of such a situation or suffers from any insecurity, then he or she should immediately inform the Ministry of Home Affairs or the local police station.
The government is determined to establish the rule of law in the country and maximum measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the members of parliament, the home minister assured the house.
