National Citizen Party (NCP) Senior Joint Chief Coordinator and Noakhali-6 MP Abdul Hannan Masud has demanded the resignation of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, accusing them of failing to ensure public safety and energy security.
“The home minister has failed to protect the lives and property of the people, while the energy minister has failed to ensure the country’s energy security,” Masud said at an NCP protest programme in Uttara over the country’s security situation and rising commodity prices.
He alleged that the home minister had failed to ensure the safety of ordinary tourists in his home district of Cox’s Bazar, citing an incident in which a bus was stopped on a highway and passengers were robbed for around two and a half hours.
“People across the country are worried about their safety. In this situation, the home minister should acknowledge his failure and resign,” he said.
Expressing concern over the country’s energy security, Masud alleged that most of the country’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business was controlled by Bashundhara and Meghna groups.
He claimed that syndication by these companies was forcing consumers to pay Tk 2,500 for a cylinder that should cost Tk 1,850.
“Instead of working for the people, the government is acting at the behest of these industrial groups,” he said.
Masud also accused the energy minister of failing to normalise the country’s energy situation, saying he should step down over his failure.
“Do not test the patience of the people. Resign by accepting responsibility before the people bring about your downfall,” Masud said.
The NCP leader further alleged that although the government was talking about improving farmers’ livelihoods through farmer cards, farmers were being forced to take to the streets to demand fertiliser and were facing police harassment.
He also accused Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of "betraying" the people by changing his position on the referendum after the election.
Masud said the prime minister had supported holding a referendum before the election but opposed it afterwards, failing to implement the people's verdict.
Condemning recent attacks on celebrities and lawmakers, Masud claimed that 14 MPs had come under attack during the current government's tenure.
He also alleged that gunshots were fired at the car of popular singer Asif Akbar, describing the incidents as evidence of the government's failure.
Accusing the government of turning the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police into repressive forces, Masud said the renaming of RAB amounted to rehabilitating the force rather than reforming it.
“Instead of ensuring security through the police, the government is turning the force into an instrument of repression,” he said.
Masud urged the government to respect the referendum verdict and work for the welfare of the people rather than serving the interests of any particular group.