Feni District Council Administrator faces criticism for calling Environment Minister Mintu ‘dear prophet’

Feni Correspondent:

Controversy seems to be rife for Feni District Council Administrator and District BNP Joint Convener Professor MA Khalek. This time, he has been involved in criticism of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu by calling him a ‘dear prophet’. His statement has gone viral on social media.

Many are comparing Khaleq’s statement to hurting religious sentiments and polytheism.

District Council Administrator MA Khalek made these remarks while speaking as a special guest at a discussion meeting organized by Feni’s Daganbhuiyan Upazila and Municipality BNP on the occasion of the martyrdom anniversary of martyred President Ziaur Rahman on Saturday (May 30).

He said, “The chief guest of the event is BNP Vice Chairman, Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintu, my beloved prophet and beloved person.”

Khalek’s statement immediately sparked a ruckus and whispers at the venue. Many said it was a manifestation of incompetence.

A Maulana, who did not wish to be named, said, “Comparing people to the Prophet is shirk. Moreover, religious sentiments have been hurt.”

Besides, BNP is repeatedly facing embarrassing situations due to the outrageous statements and actions of District Council Administrator Khalek. Several leaders of the party said that BNP will not take responsibility for these incidents of Khalek.

Earlier, on April 16, Khalek faced controversy and criticism over the VIP protocol given to teachers and students during the annual sports competition at Motabi Adarsh ​​High School in Sadar Upazila.

Although a guard of honor is a formal reception by the armed forces to honor a prominent figure, head of state, or a heroic freedom fighter, the district council administrator was given such a reception by school students, which sparked a storm of criticism across the district.

Earlier, in his special guest speech at a program organized by Feni Sadar Upazila Tanti Dal on September 7 last year to mark the founding anniversary of BNP, MA Khalek said, “We never want a difference between BNP and Awami League. BNP is a fascist political party. They don’t understand democracy, they don’t understand elections. They don’t understand the desires of the people, they understand power. They need power. They don’t care about elections and electoral democracy.”

However, he later expressed regret, calling that part of the speech a ‘slip of the tongue’.