No return like the Nazis
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has ruled out any possibility of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League associates returning to Bangladesh, drawing a parallel with Nazi leaders who fled Germany and were never allowed to resume political activities there.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, he said the “fascist Awami forces” who fled the country following the July 2024 mass uprising would never be allowed to return.
“Nazis could not return to Germany or engage in politics again. Likewise, the fascist Awami forces that fled during the mass uprising will never be able to return to Bangladesh,” he said in a statement delivered under Rule 300 during the evening session.
The home minister also called for national unity to prevent attempts to destabilise the country, urging the ruling party, opposition and other political forces to work together against alleged conspiracies.
He said various programmes announced from across the border, whether described as protests, strikes or under other names, were ultimately aimed at creating instability in Bangladesh.
“To resist the fallen fascist forces, uproot them completely and prevent the implementation of any of their programmes or conspiracies, national unity is essential above all else,” he said.
Salahuddin expressed hope that the ruling party, opposition parties and other political forces would maintain a united position on the issue, both inside and outside Parliament. He said the government also wanted to strengthen public security further and sought cooperation from political parties and citizens.
Addressing the opposition leader, the home minister recalled a programme held in Dhaka on September 3, 2024, shortly after the fall of the previous government. He said the opposition leader had then pledged that his party would not file cases against those who had subjected its members to political persecution.
Salahuddin said he shared the opposition leader’s assessment that recent unrest had been instigated from across the border, adding that he had expressed similar views on several occasions.
He also alleged that the public had become aware of secret meetings in Dhaka between senior leaders of a political party and representatives of foreign organisations.
The home minister further claimed that the fugitive former prime minister had repeatedly instructed Awami League leaders through audio calls from across the border to prepare lists of participants in the July uprising and attack their homes. He alleged that threats had also been issued warning that activists involved in the uprising would soon be taught a lesson.
However, he said such an opportunity would probably never arise.
Salahuddin maintained that the government had no intention of turning law enforcement agencies into partisan forces in its efforts to ensure security and stability.
He alleged that law enforcement personnel had come under attack in different parts of the country despite exercising restraint and respecting human rights. According to him, the fallen Awami League forces were taking advantage of that restraint.
“They are exploiting our respect for human rights. Nevertheless, we will not retreat from the commitments we have made to the people. Remaining within the boundaries of human rights, we will foil all conspiracies aimed at creating instability and sabotage,” he said.
He added that law enforcement agencies would take necessary measures during operations and drives within the legal framework governing the right to private defence.
Salahuddin also referred to the deaths of law enforcement personnel in Chattogram and elsewhere, saying the agencies had been instructed to take lawful action in accordance with the principle of private defence.
On the recent labour unrest, he alleged that the fallen Awami League forces and their domestic allies had instigated workers and turned labour-related grievances into protests. He said the government had taken effective measures to address the situation.