Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Health Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday hinted at National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Mizanur Rahman for being a pro-BNP-Jamaat intellectual.
They made the comments in the presence of Mizanur, at a conference organised by Jatiya Puja Udjapon Parishad at Dhaka University’s TSC.
Earlier at the same program, Mizanur had criticised the government’s failure in preventing communal violence surrounding the 10th parliamentary election.
The NHRC chief said in many of the violence-hit areas, cases had mostly been filed without naming anyone as accused, adding that these cases against the unnamed had been lodged only for “business purposes.”
He also expressed disappointment as the accused were yet to be brought to justice.
Later, Health Minister Nasim referred to the NHRC chief’s speech and said: “The real attackers are known faces, but the speaker [Mizanur] did not mention anything against those who were involved with such heinous attacks.”
He added that some intellectuals never point blame at the real culprits, as they were patronised by the evil forces.
Further referring to Mizanur’s speech, Nasim said such speech was attractive to the public, but not fruitful. The minister also vowed to work with the premier to make Bangladesh a non-communal country.
Speaking as chief guest, Commerce Minister Tofail also criticised Mizanur’s remark, saying: “One [Mizanur] gave speech aiming at the ministers, but did not specify the main culprits. Here is the difference between our intellectuals and pro-BNP-Jamaat intellectuals.”
Tofail assured of ensuring proper punishment for the miscreants who committed the heinous attacks during the national election.
President of Jatiya Puja Udjapon Parishad Kanutosh Majumdar presided over the programme, which was conducted by the parishad’s Secretary General Monindra Kumar Nath. Among others, DU Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Federal Union of Journalists President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul and Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council President Rana Dasgupta were present.
