National Citizen Party (NCP) southern region chief organiser and Cumilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah has expressed regret over a misunderstanding with the people of Brahmanbaria caused by his remarks in parliament.

At the same time, he said Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed’s comments on cultural activities in Brahmanbaria had also created a wrong impression about the district’s people and Islamic scholars.

Hasnat made the remarks in a post on his verified Facebook account this afternoon.

On Thursday, in parliament, Hasnat asked the home minister a supplementary question about the country’s law and order situation and allegations that cultural activities such as concerts and “nouka baich” had been restricted in Brahmanbaria.

His remarks later sparked a protest march in the district last night. Protesters also warned that no NCP programme would be allowed there until he apologised.

In the Facebook post, Hasnat Abdullah said, “I regret that the statement I made in parliament seeking accountability from the home minister over the deterioration of the law and order situation created a misunderstanding with the people of Brahmanbaria.”

He said the home minister had recently remarked that music and cinema were “almost banned” in Brahmanbaria, which, according to Hasnat, shifted the blame for the ministry’s failure onto local people and Islamic scholars.

Referring to an incident surrounding a police concert in Brahmanbaria, Hasnat said the reality was different from how it had been portrayed in the media.

According to him, madrasa students had asked for the volume to be lowered as loud music late at night was disrupting the studies of examinees. An argument later broke out between police and the students, and several students were injured in police baton charges.

“The madrasa students did not stop the concert. They only asked for the sound to be lowered,” he said.

Hasnat also admitted making a factual error in parliament while referring to a boat race.

“I mistakenly said Brahmanbaria instead of Sylhet. I am embarrassed by the unintended misunderstanding caused by this error,” he said.

He said the time limit for a supplementary question had prevented him from explaining the full context of the incidents.

Reaffirming his and his party’s commitment to the ideals of July, Hasnat said they wanted a society where everyone would enjoy equal rights and no one would impose their views on others.

“This Bangladesh belongs to everyone -- there will be mosques, temples, music, waz, shrines, concerts, mahfils, rath yatras, film festivals, as well as discussions by Islamic scholars,” he said.

Hasnat said it was the government’s responsibility to ensure that no one infringed on the rights of others.