Ishraque Trapped by the Home Minister’s Failure: Nasiruddin Patwary
Nasiruddin Patwary, Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), claimed that former State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain entered active politics with good intentions to combat drug trafficking but fell into a trap due to the Home Minister’s administrative failures. Speaking to reporters on Monday morning during a Sharadiya Durga Puja greeting exchange at Dhakeshwari Temple, Mr. Patwary emphasised that the primary responsibility for the country’s security lapses lies squarely with the Home Minister. He questioned why Mr. Ishraque sustained gunshot wounds, asserting that the Home Minister committed errors while another individual suffered the physical consequences.
Addressing community safety, Mr. Patwary noted that despite government assurances to protect all citizens, members of the Hindu community continue to face significant security challenges. Citing incidents of vandalism over the past few months, he urged the media to highlight issues such as cattle slaughtering at Jagannath University and called on Muslim citizens to exercise empathy so Hindu community members do not feel aggrieved. He urged observers not to label him with tags like a new version of Shahbagi Hindus simply for voicing these concerns regarding minority rights and safety.
Echoing similar concerns at the event, NCP Member Secretary and Member of Parliament Akhtar Hossain stated that Ishraque Hossain felt compelled to take to the field with weapons because state institutions completely failed to maintain law and order. Mr. Hossain highlighted that lawlessness, extortion, drug proliferation, forced disappearances, murder, and rape have escalated across the country. He remarked that drug control agencies and the Home Ministry remain largely ineffective, leaving national borders vulnerable to drug smuggling, and added that Mr. Ishraque’s resignation alone will not resolve the broader law and order crisis.
NCP Political Council Member and Member of Parliament Nusrat Tabassum reiterated the party’s support for peaceful religious celebrations across all communities during the festive period. She expressed hope that major events like Durgotsav would remain free from untoward incidents and assured minority citizens of the NCP’s solidarity. Greeting attendees on Maha Ashtami, she emphasised that the joy of the Hindu community brings joy to the entire nation.
The greeting event at Dhakeshwari Temple brought together several key political figures to assess state security and social cohesion during the religious festival. Among those present alongside Mr. Patwary, Mr. Hossain, and Ms. Tabassum were NCP Political Council Member Sarwar Tushar and Joint Member Secretary Pritom Das. Their collective presence underscored the NCP’s focus on national law enforcement accountability and interfaith harmony during national celebrations.
