Opposition lawmakers walked out of parliament on Thursday, the opening day of the third session of the 13th Parliament, protesting what they described as a unilateral approach to bills and constitutional reforms.
At around 8:07pm, lawmakers from the 11-party opposition alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), left the chamber following a speech by Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman.
Speaking as the House began proceedings to introduce three government bills, Shafiqur raised concerns over public suffering caused by the electricity and gas crises and rising prices of essential commodities.
He also questioned the process surrounding the bills, constitutional amendments and reforms before announcing that opposition lawmakers would not participate in the proceedings.
“We knew that private members’ day was meant for private members. But we are seeing that Parliament is being pushed towards a one-sided and unilateral course on everything,” he said.
“We do not want to participate in such bills as a matter of principle. We believe such actions will suppress the main demand for reforms. We are not in favour of suppressing that demand,” he added.
Reiterating his party’s position on reforms, Shafiqur said: “We are firmly and clearly in favour of the main demand for reforms. We have not moved from that position—officially or unofficially.”
Shafiqur questions constitutional amendment committee
The opposition leader also questioned the process of forming the constitutional amendment committee.
“We have repeatedly been requested, both inside and outside Parliament, to join the constitutional amendment committee. A committee was passed here. We protested and did not participate,” he said.
Shafiqur said the opposition later questioned whether there was any provision for forming a committee under that name.
“Later, when we said there was no provision for forming a committee called the Constitutional Amendment Committee, we heard that a particular word had been added before it. I do not know whether that particular wording was passed here,” he said.
Questioning the procedure, he said: “If a committee is actually passed by this House, then every letter of it must also be passed from here. That was not done. We were not in favour of it. That is not the main issue. I am saying that the procedure was not followed here.”