Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain and ruling Awami League MP Afsarul Amin engaged in an altercation following difference in opinion over flyovers in Chittagong during a discussion.
At one stage, the MP was about to ‘assault’ the minister during the discussion at Engineers’ Institute on Sunday evening.
The quarrel between the two politicians ultimately marred the discussion on a sustainable mass transport system, organised by the institute.
Minister Mosharraf, the chief guest, was delivering his speech after the engineers, almost all of whom spoke against the flyovers in the port city.
“I would have discouraged the flyover projects at Bahaddarhat, Kadamtali and Muradpur had I been the minister then. At least, I would have consulted you (engineers),” the minister said.
“Drivers usually avoid the Bahaddarhat and Kadamtali flyovers. They will have to be brought down, as is done in other countries if not many cars use them,” he added.
Former primary and mass education minister Amin then interrupted saying, “You cannot shrug off the responsibility as you were an MP at that time (when the flyovers were built).”
Mosharraf tried to speak but Amin continued to talk without giving the minister a chance to defend himself.
“Honourable prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) laid the foundation stones of the flyovers. You (Mosharraf) should not speak (against the projects) publicly,” Amin said.
He also said the discussion had been organised because the minister wanted it.
The minister replied, “You (Amin), too, have been hired.”
The infuriated MP then charged at the minister. But Chittagong Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mahbubul Alam stopped him and calmed him down.
After that a scuffle between the supporters of the two leaders ensued.
The minister later tried to leave the programme expressing regret over what had happened.
But Amin’s followers halted him raising slogans against him. Mosharraf later managed to leave the venue.
Source: bdnews24