Minister Inu apologises in Parliament for calling MPs ‘thieves’

Facing a furious backlash from MPs for calling them ‘thieves’, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has apologised in a fiery Parliament.

He offered the apology during Monday’s session in the evening after the MPs refused to accept his statement saying he was sorry for his earlier comment.

The Leader of the House, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was present during the session chaired by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

Hasina at the Cabinet meeting in the afternoon reportedly said, “He (Inu) has described himself as a thief through the comments.”

Inu said he was sorry for his comment once again at the Cabinet meeting.

The information minister on Sunday remarked at a discussion that he, being an MP, knew how tens of millions were being ‘stolen from programmes like Test Relief (TR) and Food for Work’.

“The government gives 300 tonnes. Mr MP steals 150 tonnes first, then the others share the rest among themselves,” he said.

A statement from his ministry later quoted him as saying that he had meant ‘some cases of corruption’ and did not blame everyone while speaking about the prime minister’s efforts against graft.

“If someone got hurt, I am really sorry for that,” he said.

On Monday evening, Awami League MP Abul Hasnat Abdullah raised the issue on a point of order in Parliament.

“I’ve seen in today’s newspapers that the honourable information minister has said half of the money earmarked for TR and KaBiKha (Food for Work) is in our pockets now”, Abdullah said.

The MPs reacted immediately, shouting, “Shame! Shame!”

Abdullah condemned JaSoD President Inu’s comment and said the minister should apologise for the remarks.

He also demanded a ruling from the Speaker and investigation into TR and Food for Work projects in Inu’s constituency.

The Jatiya Party’s Kazi Firoz Rashid said, “It seems that we, all 350 MPs, have become thieves. But there is a saint – the information minister. He said MPs pocket 150 tonnes (of foodgrains) from KaBiKha (Food for Work), which means no work is done.”

“Does development in rural areas come from air?” he asked.

In an apparent reference to the recent terror attacks, he said, “The nation is passing through a critical time, and what message he is giving the nation? It’s unforgivable.”

“Everyone in this Parliament is shocked. He will have to offer an unconditional apology; there is no alternative to it. And he will have to do it on the floor of this Parliament, considering the way he insulted us.”

Independent MP Rustum Ali Faraji said he would step down if irregularity in the projects in his area were found. He also demanded an investigation into the projects in Inu’s constituency.

“He has no right to lower Parliament’s image. He has breached his oath,” Faraji said.

All the MPs then started to speak in loud voices, resulting in bedlam, as the Speaker gave Inu the floor.

“There has been misunderstanding over my comments published in the media on the honourable MPs and public representatives in TR, KaBiKha. I am sincerely sorry as the honourable MPs and public representatives have felt hurt by my comments,” Inu said.

MPs loudly protested when Inu maintained that he had meant ‘some cases’ while speaking about corruption in the projects.

He also claimed the media had carried only part of his speech.

The MPs, however, were not pacified and demanded that the minister apologise.

At that point, Inu said he was withdrawing his comment on the MPs.

But the MPs insisted that he apologise.

Prime Minister Hasina then took the floor and tried to calm the MPs.

Inu then apologised, bringing an end to the stormy situation.