With both prime minister and the opposition leader at their seats, the parliament session on Saturday was a lively one.
Though the two leaders do not often engage in verbal communication, Saturday's session was an exception, where both of them addressed each other indirectly in their speeches.
The arch-rivals’ speeches on the proposed budget were applauded by their respective benches in the parliament, and they were booed by their opposition at the same time.
During her address, the opposition leader Khaleda Zia rejected the recent claims made by the PM that the BNP leader had written a letter to the US government demanding suspension of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).
However, following Khaleda’s rejection, Sheikh Hasina produce d a document in favour of her claim, which in turn was rejected by the opposition leader.
At one point in her speech, Khaleda Zia claimed that during her government’s last term, they had eradicated terrorism and militancy from the country, a claim opposed by the ruling party lawmakers.
Opposition MPs from the reserved seats for women yelled in an “unparliamentary” manner in response to the PM’s address – an act admonished by Awami League MPs, Aslamul Hoque Aslam in particular.
Talking about the “third forces” in her speech, Sheikh Hasina recalled the bitter experience faced by Khaleda Zia and herself in the aftermath of 1/11.
She also pointed out how the then caretaker government had forced Khaleda’s son, Tarique, out of the country after it forced him to sign a bond. An undertaking in this regard was produced by the PM, which was naturally declined by the opposition leader.