A Jamalpur Awami League leader has been accused of assaulting Hosne Ara, a member of parliament from reserved women's seat no 16.
The MP made the allegation against Islampur upazila unit Labour Affairs Secretary Anwarul Islam at a press conference held at her residence in Jamalpur’s Islampur upazila on Thursday.
She said the incident took place in the presence of State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan during a meeting at Jamalpur's Islampur upazila Awami League office at around 9pm the same day.
According to party sources, Hosne Ara asked the state minister during the meeting why she was not invited to the party program.
In response to this, Awami League leader Anwar allegedly verbally abused her. She also alleged that the Awami League leader also physically attacked her in front of the state minister.
“I asked the state minister with due respect why I was not invited to the party's program. At that time, labour affairs secretary and former expelled leader Anwarul Islam abused me in unspeakable language. At one point, he slapped my hand,” said the MP.
She also said the state minister asked her to keep quiet when Anwar was abusing her.
Later, the MP left the Awami League office, unable to bear the insult.
"If the state minister wanted, he could have resolved the matter immediately. But he did not do that. Instead, he scolded me,” she claimed.
Saiful Islam, former president of Upazila Jubo League, said: "The attack on a woman MP in front of the party's upazila president and state minister is a very shameful incident. The state minister could have resolved the matter at that time if he wished.”
The accused Awami League leader Anwarul, and state minister denied the allegations.
“I made the MP sit on the chair next to me. Apart from this, I did not see Anwarul Islam misbehaving with MP Hosne Ara,” State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan said.
The state minister added there is video footage of the meeting, and they will look into the matter.
He added that Hosne Ara was trying to tarnish the party’s image.
