'Govt will expose those conspiring with exiled Awami League leaders': Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has assured Parliament that the government will foil any conspiracy, whether hatched within the country or abroad, to destabilise Bangladesh or bring back the ousted regime.

Responding to questions from the Leader of the Opposition during the second sitting of the National Parliament's fourth session on Tuesday, Salahuddin said the government would expose those collaborating with exiled elements to undermine national stability.

"If anyone attempts to create conditions to bring back the fallen fascists, the nation will see it. We will expose exactly who is conspiring with whom, backed by evidence," he said.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to maintaining law and order and protecting the country's investment climate, dismissing what he described as "so-called strike programmes" announced through social media from across the border. He said such calls had no real presence on the streets.

Addressing recent security incidents, Salahuddin said four people had been caught red-handed in connection with seven crude bomb explosions across the country. Of them, three were handed over to police, while one escaped custody.

However, he rejected claims that these isolated incidents indicated a breakdown of law and order.

"A crude bomb exploding on a vehicle roof outside the Dhaka University Business Faculty in the dead of night does not mean law and order has collapsed," he said.

"Nor does setting fire to an abandoned or unattended bus in the early hours destabilise the country's political situation. Compiling two or three symbolic incidents to characterise the security situation as catastrophic is illogical."

Salahuddin said the government, which took office in February, had comprehensive comparative crime data covering January to October to assess its performance across different security indicators.

He blamed remnants of the previous regime, allegedly acting under foreign guidance, for the ongoing unrest.

"It is obvious to anyone with basic political awareness that the fallen fascist forces have long plotted to destabilise the nation," he said, alleging that their supporters inside the country were attempting to reorganise themselves with backing from those who had fled across the border.

He added that the government would expose those providing support to the exiled figures from within Bangladesh.

Salahuddin also offered to investigate specific allegations concerning threats or intelligence communications raised by the Leader of the Opposition if details were formally submitted to the government.

Govt foils plot to disrupt garment sector

The Home Minister also disclosed that a major plot, backed by substantial domestic and foreign funding, had been devised to destabilise the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector, a key source of foreign currency earnings.

He said security forces foiled the attempts by exercising restraint despite repeated provocations.

"Law enforcement agencies acted with immense patience and avoided excessive force, even sustaining injuries themselves," Salahuddin said. "Perpetrators repeatedly attempted to provoke an incident that fascist forces could exploit, but the government deliberately denied them that opportunity."

He said coordinated security deployments involving the Industrial Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other forces were safeguarding major industrial areas, including Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia, Hemayetpur, Narayanganj and parts of Mymensingh, to ensure uninterrupted production and protect workers' livelihoods.

Salahuddin added that continued discussions with factory owners and labour federation leaders had helped stabilise the sector and counter attempts by some factory owners and political agitators to disrupt production.