Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday came down heavily on a few parliament members as they were advocating against Article 70 in the Constitution despite the article has given sustainability to the government and thus the development.
"Article 70 has given protection to democracy alongside further strengthening it to reach its benefit to the people. But, a few of our (parliament) members are against the article as they are unable to play the game of seating and unseating the government," she said.
The prime minister, also leader of the House, was delivering the valedictory speech in the 22nd (special) session of the 11th parliament, marking the Golden Jubilee of the parliament with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
The prime minister said a few parliament members are expressing concern over Article 70 in the Constitution due to their inexperience, referring to the unseating of the governments formed after 1946 and 1954 elections mainly due to floor-crossing of the parliament members.
"Many are expressing concern over Article 70 in the Constitution. Those who are doing so, might have a lack of experience. Article 70 has given scope to our country to give the government stability, for which reason the country has witnessed development," she said.
During his submission, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Muhammed Quader spoke about revoking Article 70 of the constitution.
Article 70 of the constitution deals with the cancellation of membership of parliament members for voting against their political party.
As per Article 70 of Bangladesh constitution: “A person elected as a member of Parliament at an election at which he was nominated as a candidate by a political party shall vacate his seat if he –(a) resigns from that party ; or (b) votes in Parliament against that party ; but shall not thereby be disqualified for subsequent election as a member of Parliament.”
Earlier, the parliament held a special discussion in line with a resolution taken by the prime minister on April 7 under section 147 of the rules of procedure of the parliament.
President Md Abdul Hamid delivered a memorial speech in the parliament highlighting the country's achievements.
Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad, Deputy Leader of the House Matia Chowdhury and Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, also spoke in the parliament.
The prime minister said that their experience is very dissimilar as they have witnessed the tenures of Ayub, Yahya, Zia, General Ershad and Khaleda Zia.
The premier raised a comparative scenario regarding the socio-economic development in many indicators between 2006 (at the fag-end of BNP-Jamaat regime) and 2022.
She said per capita income rose to $2,824 in 2022 from only $543 in 2006, while the size of GDP to Tk4600,000 crore from Tk415,072 crore, the size of budget to Tk678,064 crore from Tk61,000 crore, the size of annual development program to Tk227,566 crore from Tk21,500 crore, the reserve of foreign currencies to $32.63 billion from $0.74 billion, the export income to $52.97 billion from $10.05 billion, the remittance inflow to $21.03 billion from $4.8 billion, the allocation against the social safety sector to Tk113,576 crore from Tk2,505 crore, the life expectancy to 73 years from 59 years, the access to drinking water to 98.7% from 55%, the electricity generation to 25,227 megawatt from 3,882 megawatt, the beneficiary of electricity in the country to 100% from 28%, and the literacy rate to 75.6% from 45%.
The head of government said the economic growth had been 5.40% in 2006 which was 7.50% in 2022, the inflation had been 10% in 2006 which was 5.5% in 2019 and 8.57% in 2022
She said the poverty rate declined to 20.5% in 2022 from 41.51% in 2006, the extreme poverty rate to 10% from 25.1%, the child mortality rate per thousand births to 21 persons from 84 and the mother mortality rate per 100 thousand births to 161 from 370.
Sheikh Hasina also highlighted the massive development of Bangladesh in the digital arena.
