Lawmakers lambast Ranga over Noor Hossain remark
Opposition Chief Whip and Jatiya Party Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga yesterday faced scathing criticism, including from two senior MPs of his own party, alongside lawmakers of the ruling Awami League and opposition parties in the Jatiya Sangsad, for his recent derogatory remarks over Shaheed Noor Hossain.
They demanded that Ranga apologise before the nation for his remarks on Noor Hossain, a young pro-democracy activist who sacrificed his life on November 10, 1987, during the movement to end the autocratic regime of HM Ershad.
Taking floor on point of order, Awami League MP Tahzeeb Alam Siddique began the criticism.
Later, Jatiya Party MPs -- Kazi Feroz Rashid and Mujibul Haque Chunnu, AL lawmakers Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Gonoforum MP Sultan Mohammed Mansur and Tarikat Federation Chairman Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary joined the criticism during the unscheduled discussion, in absence of Ranga.
Ranga, at a discussion arranged by JP Dhaka north city unit on Sunday, had said, “Who was Noor Hossain? An addict... a yaba abuser, a Phensedyl abuser.”
Kazi Feroz Rashid said Ranga’s comments are not the stance of Jatiya Party. “It is his personal statement. Jatiya Party is ashamed for these remarks. We are sorry and feel humiliated for this,” he said.
“We don’t own what he said over Noor Hossain. We reject it with hatred.”
“We have utmost respect for a brave youth who can sacrifice his life for democracy,” he added.
Claiming that Ranga was a leader of Jubo Dal in the past, Feroz Rashid said, “How does he have the audacity to talk against Bangabandhu? He spoke against the prime minister. We must give a fitting reply to his audacity.”
Another JP lawmaker Mujibul Haque said Ranga will have to take responsibility for what he has said about Noor Hossain.
AL senior parliamentarian Tofail Ahmed, in his point of order, said Ranga has hurt the sentiment of the country’s people with his insulting remarks.
“Ranga will have to apologise before the nation… You could not become a member of parliament if you did not forge alliance with Awami League,” he said.
Another senior parliamentarian from AL, Amir Hossain Amu, said Ranga made the remarks to hide misdeeds of HM Ershad.
“Action should be taken against him [for his remark]. He must apologise,” added the veteran politician.
Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, meanwhile, demanded that Jatiya Party suspend Ranga.
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