Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam responded sharply after Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Shawkat Aziz Russell criticised him, saying he speaks "like a madman."
In a Facebook post at 8pm today (2 November), Shafiqul said, "Today, Shawkat Aziz Russell said I talk like a madman. Here is the comment I posted when he himself acted like a real madman! Perhaps he has been angry ever since."
Speaking at a discussion earlier in the day, the BTMA president said, "Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam speaks like a madman. He has a Facebook page where he makes absurd comments and embarrasses people."
Russell further said, "If the right person is not in the right position, right decisions can never be made."
Hours after the BTMA president's remarks, the chief adviser's press secretary reshared one of his previous posts from 26 May where he had denounced the BTMA president's remarks for comparing the country's gas crisis in industrial zones to the systematic killings of intellectuals during the 1971 Liberation War.
"Such a comparison is not only historically inaccurate but also deeply disrespectful to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for our nation's independence," he said in the 26 May post.
He also wrote, "I'm surprised and shocked by the comments made by the BTMA president. Is it part of a well orchestrated conspiracy to discredit the Interim Government? It is crucial for industry leaders to communicate their grievances responsibly and constructively. Inflammatory rhetoric not only undermines the seriousness of their concerns but also detracts from the collaborative efforts needed to resolve such crises."
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) / Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam / Bangladesh