Two days after a request from BNP lawmakers, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Saturday made an appeal for allowing two detained opposition MPs to attend the upcoming parliament session set to start on June 3.
“Their release is a judicial matter; I have nothing to say about that. But I humbly request the judiciary to let them attend the parliament session,” Chaudhury told the Dhaka Tribune after attending an experience sharing meeting on the parliamentary oversight committees organised by the parliament secretariat.
“As the speaker, I want them [detained opposition MPs] to be present in the House,” she said.
The speaker, however, said she had not spoken to the home minister for the release of the BNP legislators MK Anwar and Barkatullah Bulu.
On May 27 the police arrested MK Anwar on charges of provoking religious sentiments. Bulu was attested on May 15 for his alleged involvement with the March 11 violence.
Last week six BNP MPs led by Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque called on Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and sought her support for the release of the two jailed lawmakers. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny, Abul Khayer Bhuiyan, Shammi Akhter, Rehana Akhter Ranu and Nazim Uddin Ahmed were the other MPs accompanying Farrqoue.
Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told the delegation that she would try her best to get the two MPs released.
According to parliamentary practices, a jailed MP can be released on parole to attend parliament sessions subject to the government’s recommendation.
Jatiya Party Chief HM Ershad attended parliament sessions on parole in the Awami League-led 7th parliament. Jatiya Party was a coalition member.
Opposition MPs have been shunning House sessions since March 20 last year. They must attend the assembly by mid-June or lose membership in line with the constitution which stipulates that MPs must not stay away from parliamentary proceedings for 90 consecutive days.
The BNP lawmakers have already been absent for 83 consecutive days.