Chargesheet will be filed if investigation into Misti's allegations proves true: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has remarked that if preliminary truth is proven in the investigation into allegations against reserved women's seat MP Ferdousi Ahmed Misti, a chargesheet will be filed against her.

He said legal action is being taken against her. If a chargesheet is filed, she will have to go under the court's jurisdiction and come under the law. Party action means organisational measures taken by the party, which is a matter outside the law.

He made these remarks at an urgent press conference at the Ministry of Home Affairs conference room in the Secretariat on Thursday, October 1.

In response to a question on whether MP Misti has actually resigned and what the next process will be, the minister said the Speaker can say this, it is not within his jurisdiction. This is a matter reserved for the Speaker. On legal action, he said if preliminary truth of the allegations against her is proven in the investigation, a chargesheet will be filed against her. Party action means organisational measures taken by the party, which is a matter outside the law. And legal action means if a chargesheet is filed, she will have to go under the court's jurisdiction and come under the law. Until then, it will not be right for us to say anything against an honourable MP until the allegations are proven through investigation.

Asked whether any quarter is actually involved in the instability, with an eviction drive underway in Mirpur and several people detained on one hand, while it is being said that attempts are being made to create instability at universities on the other, the minister said freeing footpaths from hawkers is a demand of citizens. We do not want to make hawkers unemployed. Several measures have already been taken to find alternative employment or alternative places for them. We are trying to set up holiday markets. But sitting indiscriminately and obstructing movement causes accidents, and we cannot give people relief from this. Hawkers occupy footpaths and parts of roads in such a way, such as at Mirpur-10 roundabout, that ordinary citizens have no right there.

He said we make alternative arrangements only to provide for hawkers and for their employment, but not by blocking roads. This is a regular task of the city corporation, they have executive magistrates, and we provide police assistance. They free footpaths from occupation, free them from hawkers. But at the same time, we are taking measures so that no one becomes unemployed; for that, a discipline must be brought in. It is not that we can make alternative arrangements for hawkers today itself, but we have tried in a few places. Citizens' freedom of movement must be protected, comfort must be maintained, and road discipline and the traffic system must be maintained. All these must be thought of together. The eviction drive is not to make anyone unemployed; this operation is being conducted to protect citizens' rights. There is no connection between this and creating instability.

In response to a question on whether MP Misti has submitted a resignation letter, he said he does not know whether she has submitted a resignation letter; the Speaker can say this. He requested a little patience in the case of party matters.

He said we have not yet brought changes to the Cyber Security Act; we are trying to amend it. Spreading misinformation based on unverified information, without waiting, without contacting the government or the relevant ministry and department, without knowing the correct information, and creating instability in society can certainly be considered an offence. Because if such misinformation is spread where there is a possibility of widespread harm, a possibility of creating instability, a possibility of a law and order situation arising, it is not right for any responsible person to spread such information on social media. Since the law has not yet been amended, we cannot take it into consideration right now.

The minister said we are treating crime as crime; there is no matter of giving a separate message. Wherever crimes are committed, police are addressing them immediately. They are receiving complaints, cases are being filed, investigations are being conducted, arrests are being made. You cannot point to a single incident in the past six to seven months where a crime was committed and law enforcement agencies subsequently did not perform their duties. Maybe they could not do it in 12 hours, but they did in 24 or 48 hours. There are examples of chargesheets being filed within seven days. There are examples before your eyes of trials being completed within 15 to 17 days.

The Home Minister further said there is no matter of giving a message here. We are taking precautionary preparatory measures so that any kind of crime cannot be committed, and we are also taking action as per law after a crime is committed. If there is any fault on our part anywhere, you will point it out, and we will address them.