‘Do something for Bangladesh’: Salman Muqtadir urges Home Minister
Content creator Salman Muqtadir has said he does not need any compensation for the damage caused to his studio during an attack, urging the government instead to ensure the safety and security of people across the country.
He made the remarks in a video message this afternoon in response to comments made by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed about the attack on his studio.
Addressing the Home Minister, Salman said, “Do something. We are not asking you for money. You do not have to build my studio. I, Salman Muqtadir, am strong enough. I will not beg anyone. …I do not need anything. If you really want to do something, do something for Bangladesh.”
He said the government must ensure the safety of every person in the country. “If through this you cannot ensure any kind of safety and security for the people, if you cannot ensure the security of my citizens, then it is my loss,” he said.
Salman also criticised the Home Minister for saying that no case had been filed over the attack.
He said he had gone to Cantonment Police Station after the attack and waited until 4 am to file a case, but the case was not taken.
“I was sitting at your police station with so many people until 4am yesterday, at Cantonment Police Station. I returned home at 4 am, when I was not supposed to have my head in the right state. Even then, until noon today, the case had not been filed,” he said. “Until things got viral and your statement came, why was the case not filed? This is the question I should have for you. You have to answer the people of the country why a case was not filed under Salahuddin Ahmed.”
Cantonment Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Gias Uddin told Prothom Alo that the case was filed at 8:30 am today.
Salman also questioned why the Home Minister was unaware that the case had been filed. “You are the Home Minister. Every police station, every authority, every administration is under your control with one call, one button. You do not even know that a case has been filed. You do not have the update,” he said.
He added, “How detached are you from the citizens of your country, from your safety and security protocol? You are completely detached. You do not know that a case has been filed.”
The Home Minister had described Salman’s allegation of extortion against BNP in connection with the incident as “sweeping and controversial”.
Responding to the comment, Salman said, “Why did I talk about BNP? Why did I talk about extortion? The way you give that slight smile, I feel like giving the same smile now. Look, I can smile too, and you can smile too. We are helpless in the same way. You cannot do anything, and I cannot do anything either. You are brushing it off while smiling, and I am also brushing it off while smiling.”
Salman claimed that the three people detained from the scene had mentioned BNP’s name.
“Shots were fired from their guns. Evidence has been collected. Their machetes, spades — everything has been collected. I saw the videos on their phones. I saw their faces. They are admitting it. After being beaten by people and hearing from people, I heard that they took the name of BNP,” he said.
He also questioned the Home Minister’s focus on his comments about BNP. “I have to maintain my sanity, I have to maintain my composure, and then I have to keep my speech proper. I cannot say anything about BNP, I cannot point a finger. I am very confused. Have you taken responsibility for BNP’s PR management crisis, or have you taken responsibility for the Home Ministry? I am very confused here. Because the problem was safety and security,” Salman said.
He further said, “We did not come to you for an investigation. We came for action. You yourself said that I was speaking in a sweeping manner. Then you yourself said that someone from a military force was involved here. Okay, you have investigated that. Then what did you do?”
“You came to the press briefing and gave no answer, took no action, and did nothing that could assure the people of Bangladesh about their security. Instead, you said, Salman Muqtadir said this, the gentleman said that,” he added.
Salman said he could rebuild his studio himself but wanted the government to take steps to ensure public safety.
“Do something. We are not asking you for money. You do not have to build my studio. I, Salman Muqtadir, am strong enough. I will not beg anyone,” he said.
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