No one is above the law; the prime minister will decide if anyone acts against public expectations: law minister

Against the backdrop of nationwide debate and criticism sparked by the state minister for Liberation War affairs himself brandishing a weapon during a raid on a drug den, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said that if anyone engages in conduct completely contrary to the hopes and expectations of the general public, the prime minister holds full authority to take the final decision on the matter—and has demonstrated as much before.

At the same time, he stated firmly that no one in this state, or in the eyes of the law, deserves a place above the law. Political observers see the law minister's remarks as significant, coming amid speculation over the state minister's resignation—although he did not name anyone directly.

The law minister made the comments while facing journalists' questions on Monday morning after the inauguration ceremony of the newly built building of the Jhenaidah District Primary Teacher Training Institute.

On the question of MPO-listed teachers contesting or taking part in local government elections, the law minister made clear that, just as the MPO teacher community could take part in local elections in the past, they will be able to contest in exactly the same way under the current rules.

He said there is currently no legal barrier of any kind to taking part in the elections, and no alternative strict measure or change of law has been made on the matter. Until a final solution comes through the legal process, they will be able to take part in elections according to the rules, and the law remains fully in force as before.

Saying the current government is fully hopeful of holding the upcoming local government elections in a completely neutral, fair and peaceful atmosphere, he said a far-reaching positive change will be visible in the electoral system. People will see real proof of it through the government's sincere work, he said, urging the countrymen to keep faith in the whole process.

Responding to the criticism and controversy created over the fresh appointment of fertiliser dealers across the country, the law minister said dealer appointments were made in every part of the country entirely lawfully and strictly following the prescribed rules. He also claimed there was not the slightest irregularity or nepotism in the entire appointment process.

He added that the government is not moving away from its main goals by listening to such criticism, and that the government fully believes those who have been allocated fertiliser or other agricultural inputs have each properly received their fair and due share.

Turning to the opposition parties' ongoing harsh criticism, he said opposition parties have to bring one issue or another to the fore at all times in order to keep their existence alive in politics. Merely for the sake of opposition, they try to find fault with the government on various issues, and their main job is to blindly oppose the government, he said.

In his words, however good or welfare-oriented the government's work for the state and the people may be, they will always speak against it—which is merely the opposition's traditional political rhetoric, and the current government does not believe in such baseless talk.

Earlier in the morning, the law minister took part in an important meeting of the management committee on medical services at the 250-bed Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital. The meeting discussed in detail how to further improve the quality of the hospital's overall medical services and to discipline its internal management.

Among others present at the inauguration ceremony were the prime minister's political assistant Rashed Khan, Deputy Commissioner Noman Hossain, Police Superintendent Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan and Zila Parishad administrator M A Majid, along with senior officials from various levels of the administration.

With discussion at its peak over the state minister's weapon-brandishing raid and the speculation about resignation, the law minister's 'the prime minister will decide' comment has added a new dimension to the controversy. All eyes are now on the prime minister's office—what decision finally comes on the question of public expectations remains to be seen.