Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said no one should be harassed for playing or listening to the speech of any political leader, stressing that such actions could lead to human rights violations.
He made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking at a dialogue titled “National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025: Expectations for the New Government” held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.
The event was organised by the Citizen Platform for SDG Implementation, Bangladesh and chaired by its convener and CPD Honorary Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya.
Referring to recent controversies surrounding the playing of speeches by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the home minister said the government does not support any form of harassment over such issues.
“No one should be harassed for playing or listening to the speech of any leader. Everyone should behave responsibly so that such incidents do not occur in the future,” he said.
“I hope no one will create unwanted situations based on the speech of any leader. We never wanted such incidents to happen,” he added.
Responding to concerns raised at the event about human rights violations linked to political tensions, Salahuddin Ahmed acknowledged that challenges remain but said improving democratic culture would take time.
“What Fazlu Bhai (MP and freedom fighter Advocate Md Fazlur Rahman) mentioned is that human rights are still being violated over issues like speeches. We will gradually try to improve our social and political culture,” he said.
He noted that building a fully democratic political culture cannot happen overnight.
“We have not yet reached a hundred per cent democratic culture. What you are expecting — we will achieve it one day, InshaAllah. But it will take time. Our goal is to move towards a fully democratic culture,” he said.
The home minister also spoke about the future of various ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government.
He said the current government intends to adopt many of those ordinances, although some may require amendments before being passed in parliament.
“Some ordinances may be adopted in full, while others may be amended and passed as bills in parliament,” he said.
However, he cautioned that imposing measures without adequate discussion does not bring positive outcomes.
“Imposing something by force does not bring good results for the nation,” he said.
He added that ordinances must be approved within 30 days under parliamentary rules.
“The ones that we cannot pass within the stipulated time will lapse. Those will be brought again in the form of bills in the next parliamentary session,” he said.
Regarding the National Human Rights Commission ordinance, the minister said it would also be discussed in parliament.
“We want the human rights situation in Bangladesh to reach international standards. But considering our current realities, we need some time and opportunity to achieve that,” he added.
Among others present at the dialogue were economist Professor Rehman Sobhan, MP and freedom fighter Advocate Md Fazlur Rahman, Barrister Rumin Farhana, human rights activist Khushi Kabir, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Barrister Sara Hossain and Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan.