I didn’t make derogatory comments

Amid widespread criticisms for his ‘controversial remarks’ over attacks on Hindus in Nasirnagar upazila, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque yesterday said those who were involved in the attacks will be identified and punished, UNB reports. The embattled minister came up with the remarks at a press conference at a local school over the repeated attacks on Hindu families in his constituency of Nasirnagar upazila. About the alleged ‘derogatory comments’ about Hindu community people, he said, “It’s a conspiracy and the allegation brought against me is baseless. If anyone can prove, it I’ll quit as a minister,” he said. “There’s no conflict in Awami League. A vested quarter carried out the attacks to demean me,” he said. The BNP-Jamaat men are involved in creating obstructions to country’s development of the country, he added. On October 30, an unruly mob equipped with sharp weapons went berserk and demolished a number of Hindu temples and nearly 100 houses in the upazila following a rumour of a Facebook post demeaning the holy Kaaba. In a fresh attack on Friday, miscreants also set fire to at least six houses of Hindus in the upazila amid alertness of law enforcement agencies and local administration