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Bangladesh’s State Minister Claims Yunus Delivered “Movement Trophy” to Tarique Rahman
State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam sparked controversy in parliament today, claiming that Dr. Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the previous interim government, traveled to London to hand over the “trophy” of the 2024 July-August movement to BNP’s Tarique Rahman.
“In the July-August movement, we were all with the students and people. We did not take the trophy from anyone. But who was the captain? That is known to Dr. Muhammad Yunus. That is why he went to London, handed the trophy to our captain, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and came back with the election date,” Alam stated during his participation in the thanksgiving motion on the president’s speech in the Jatiya Sangsad.
The minister’s remarks immediately drew protests from opposition lawmakers present in the chamber. The contentious statements came as part of a broader claim that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) could take credit for three major political movements in the country’s history.
“The ‘trophies’ of three major political movements in the country — the 1971 Liberation War, the 1990 mass uprising, and the July-August 2024 uprising — belong to the BNP,” Alam declared. “All three trophies are in our house. Only BNP can showcase such trophies.”
He further elaborated on his claim, saying, “Awami League can claim 1971 and 1990, but not July-August. The opposition can claim July-August, but not 1971 and 1990.”
As opposition protests intensified during his speech, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad was forced to intervene, calling for order and asking members not to obstruct proceedings. The speaker reminded lawmakers that they would have their opportunity to present counterarguments in due course.
Undeterred, Alam continued his provocative speech, addressing Speaker Hafiz Uddin directly: “Seeing you here, some may be pleased, some may not. But you represent 1971. That credit goes to BNP because independence was declared by President Ziaur Rahman.”
The minister then pointed to the treasury benches, claiming no freedom fighters were present on the opposition side—a statement that prompted renewed protests. Speaker Hafiz Uddin immediately corrected this assertion, noting that freedom fighters were indeed present among opposition MPs, specifically mentioning Gazi Nazrul Islam as an example.
Alam also referenced former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s 2001 government, saying she had honored opposition MPs by providing them with cars bearing flags and indemnity. He emphasized that the current parliament was the result of collective political struggles spanning decades.
In a direct jab at the opposition, Alam said, “We fought, you fought. But after 2014, you disappeared midway. We were together in the four-party alliance and the 20-party alliance for long. We know each other well. We held meetings, rallies, struggles together. But for some unknown reason, you vanished after July-August and now try to mislead the nation.”
Following Alam’s speech, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman took the floor to respond to what he described as “countless falsehoods.”
“We pledged from day one that this opposition will not be conventional. We will cooperate in all just causes and will uncompromisingly oppose all unjust, anti-people measures,” Rahman said. “But today, while thanking the president, the honorable member has overwhelmed us with countless falsehoods.”
Rahman demanded that any false information presented should be expunged from the parliamentary record. In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin assured the house that he would examine the speech and remove any unparliamentary language or false information.
The heated exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions in Bangladesh’s parliament following the dramatic events of 2024, when student-led protests ultimately led to significant political changes in the country.
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8 Comments
The Minister’s statements about the BNP’s involvement in past movements warrant close scrutiny. I would urge caution in accepting such claims without a thorough, impartial investigation to substantiate the details. Factual accuracy should be the top priority.
The Minister’s remarks about the BNP’s historical role are certainly thought-provoking, but I would encourage a more nuanced and fact-based approach to discussing such sensitive political topics. Reliable, unbiased sources should be the foundation for any claims made.
The Minister’s remarks about the BNP’s alleged role in historical events are certainly noteworthy, but I would urge caution in accepting them at face value. Verifying the facts from multiple reliable sources is crucial before drawing any conclusions.
The State Minister’s claims about the BNP’s role in historical events seem quite contentious. I would caution against making unsupported statements, especially when they could be seen as politically motivated. It’s important to rely on well-documented facts from credible sources when discussing such sensitive matters.
The State Minister’s comments about the BNP taking credit for major political movements seem rather dubious. I would encourage looking into the historical record more thoroughly before making such broad assertions. Maintaining objectivity is crucial when discussing sensitive political topics.
Hmm, the State Minister’s remarks about Dr. Yunus handing a ‘trophy’ to Tarique Rahman raise some eyebrows. I’d want to see solid evidence before accepting such an extraordinary claim. These types of politically charged allegations require careful scrutiny.
The Minister’s claims about the BNP’s involvement in past movements raise some red flags. I would encourage a thorough, impartial investigation to determine the accuracy of these assertions before they are given credence.
The Minister’s statements about the BNP’s purported ‘trophies’ for various movements seem quite extraordinary. I would urge caution in accepting such claims without rigorous scrutiny and verification from credible, non-partisan sources.