Opposition MPs staged another walkout from parliament on Wednesday, protesting what they described as a lack of response to their notice seeking discussion on a “referendum and implementation of the July Charter Order.”
The walkout came after the conclusion of the question-and-answer session during the sixth day of the first sitting of the 13th National Parliament. Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman announced the decision at 5:45pm on the floor of the House following an unscheduled debate, and urged the speaker to provide redress.
Speaking in parliament, the Jamaat ameer said the opposition had submitted a notice related to a referendum and reforms, including the formation of a council for implementation. He added that the opposition had proposed an equal number of members from the government and the opposition to ensure a meaningful committee, stressing that they had come “to resolve crises, not create them.”
He also said they had expected a resolution through the speaker but did not receive any clear decision.
In response, the speaker said the previous proposal was an adjournment motion moved in his absence, noting that only a few such motions have been adopted in the country’s 53-year parliamentary history. He added that such motions are rarely accepted and are typically not used for matters requiring legislation, but had been allowed to enable an open discussion.
The speaker also said another adjournment motion on the same issue would be considered later and assured that members would have further opportunities to speak. He urged the opposition to wait for the outcome of the motion before taking any decision on walking out.
The opposition leader, however, said the new notice appeared to be an attempt to overshadow the original issue and reiterated that they were walking out in protest.
Government and opposition members exchanged further remarks on the matter, after which the opposition MPs left the House.