Saiful Alam Milon, a Jamaat-e-Islami Member of Parliament from Dhaka-12, on Monday strongly criticised the Road Transport Minister’s claim that this year’s Eid journey was “comfortable” and a “relief”.

Speaking during an unscheduled discussion in the Parliament, Milon questioned the minister’s remarks, citing conflicting reports on fatalities during the Eid travel period.

Referring to the minister’s statement made at a press conference on Sunday, Milon said, “The Road Transport Minister claimed the Eid journey was a relief. But what kind of relief is this?”

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He pointed out that, according to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) data, 170 people were killed during the Eid travel period, while the Passenger Welfare Association reported as many as 370 deaths.

Milon also mentioned a tragic incident at Daulatdia ferry terminal, where an entire bus reportedly plunged into the water, resulting in multiple fatalities. “Despite such incidents, the minister described the journey as comfortable,” he added.

In a sharp remark, the Jamaat MP questioned the minister’s accountability, saying, “How many more deaths would it take for him to feel uncomfortable?”

He further criticised the minister for not visiting the site of the Daulatdia accident and highlighted the compensation provided to victims’ families. “Those who died received only Tk 25,000, and the injured Tk 15,000. Is a human life worth just Tk 25,000?” he asked.

Drawing a comparison with the British parliamentary system, Milon said, “We follow the Westminster model. If this had happened in Britain, the minister would have resigned by now. Will he resign? Will he even consider it?”

Earlier in the session, Jamaat MP Shahjahan Chowdhury raised a point of order regarding the conduct of the question-and-answer session in Parliament. He noted that only five starred questions were addressed, suggesting that 20 to 25 questions could be accommodated within an hour.

He urged the Speaker to ensure better management of both questions and ministerial responses so that all members’ concerns are adequately addressed.

Chowdhury also commented on inconsistencies in ministers’ statements, noting differences between the Law Minister and the Home Minister. He suggested that ministers should respond strictly within their respective domains to maintain clarity and coherence.

Responding to this, BNP MP Zainul Abdin Faruk rejected any suggestion of division among ministers. He stated that all ministers are competent and dismissed claims of اختلاف or inconsistency as unfounded.