'Clarify which border, which December you will return': Whip Dulu to Hasina 

Whip M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Science and Technology, has asked Sheikh Hasina to clarify which December she plans to return to Bangladesh.

"Please make it clear which December you will come to Bangladesh. We have seen many Decembers in our lives. Many Ramadan, Eid, Puja festivals and monsoons have also passed. Is it December 2030 or December 2050? Please make it clear," he said.

Dulu made the remarks at a discussion titled "Achievements of the Current Government" at the National Press Club today (13 September), organised by the Uttaranchal Jatiyatabadi Forum.

He also warned that threats and intimidation would not be allowed to disrupt the country's democratic process, saying, "We have come to power with the mandate of the people."

The whip also asked Hasina to clarify which border she would use to enter Bangladesh, saying around 2,000 students and members of the public were killed during the July uprising and that the families of those killed or subjected to enforced disappearance over the past 17 years were waiting for her.

"Justice will be delivered for every killing committed over the past 17 years. This time, you will have to go to Kashimpur Jail. You will have to face justice before the people of Bangladesh," Dulu said.

'PM Tarique Rahman working from 9am to midnight'
Speaking about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's work over the past six months, Dulu said the prime minister had been working from 9am until around midnight since taking office after the election to rebuild a "devastated Bangladesh".

"He does not take any protocol. Since independence, he is the only prime minister who has broken all government rules and protocols. He has set an example," Dulu said.

He said Tarique had instructed that there should be no discrimination in road movement for his protocol, recalling incidents in the past when roads were not cleared even when critically ill patients died.

Dulu said the government had waived agricultural loans of up to Tk10,000 for farmers and introduced farmer cards. It had also introduced Family Cards for vulnerable women and started providing honorariums to imams, muazzins and religious leaders of different faiths, he said.

He further claimed that no one had been subjected to enforced disappearance during the past six months and that political opponents had not been intimidated, detained or disappeared.

"The government is trying to resolve people's problems, including those related to gas and electricity. InshaAllah, all problems will be resolved. The government is working to restore a healthy democratic process," Dulu said.

Dulu comments on Awami League procession
Referring to a recent Awami League procession, Dulu said, "They held a procession during prayer time. They do not even pray, nor do they believe in Allah."

Mahmuda Habiba, a reserved-seat member of parliament and chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, said the government had repaid Tk25,000 crore in foreign loans within its first five months in office and was working to reduce the interest burden.

She also said the government was returning surplus funds to the bank accounts of Hajj pilgrims who performed Hajj this year under government management, calling it "unprecedented not only in Bangladesh but anywhere in the world".