A heated exchange erupted in the national parliament on Thursday afternoon between the opposition and the ruling party over the cause of a fire at the house of Member of Parliament Nusrat Tabassum in Kushtia. The opposition's uproar forced Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed to briefly pause his speech during the session.
Opposition's Allegations in Parliament
At the start of Thursday afternoon's parliamentary session, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam raised the issue of the fire at the ancestral home of the reserved-seat MP in Kushtia's Daulatpur upazila. He claimed that the house was set ablaze by throwing four petrol bombs. He also raised questions regarding the security of Members of Parliament.Home Minister's Statement
Shortly after Nahid Islam's speech, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed addressed the House regarding the incident. Citing the preliminary investigation, he said, "The fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit. It is being assumed that no petrol bombs were used." The Home Minister's statement immediately triggered an uproar in the House, and he had to pause his speech for some time due to the opposition's commotion.Fresh Tension After Maghrib Break
A while after the Home Minister's speech, following the Maghrib prayer break, Nahid Islam again stood on a point of order. He protested the Home Minister's statement and reiterated his claim regarding the use of petrol bombs in the incident. This once again sparked tension in the parliament.It is noted that the fire broke out at the ancestral home of the reserved-seat MP in Kushtia's Daulatpur upazila in the early hours of today. An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.
