The Jatiya Sangsad Wednesday witnessed an unscheduled discussion over the observation of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) centering the "opposition" in the current 10th parliament, reports BSS.
TIB, the anti-graft body in its study findings released on Tuesday observed that there is no scope to make the government accountable since there is no opposition in parliament in "real sense".
Taking the floor on a point of order, Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim came down heavily on the TIB for its report saying the anti-graft watchdog, also an NGO, has no right to make such derogatory remarks against a sovereign parliament formed as per the constitutional provisions.
"The TIB has crossed its limit by making such comments against a sovereign parliament...does it has any right to give us advice on the state affairs and the constitution?" he questioned.
Sheikh Selim said the TIB has made the comments to please some vested quarters. "Its remarks are similar to BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's comments she made after the January 5 parliamentary polls," he added.
He said the present opposition (JP) has been playing its due role in parliament by joining each sitting in the House. On the contrary, he said, the then opposition (BNP) in the 9th parliament had joined only 12-14 sittings in the House although the opposition lawmakers took their salaries and other benefits as usual.
"What is the use of such opposition whose leader joins only eight sittings in the last parliament," he asked and demanded ruling from the chair on the matter to protect dignity of the sovereign parliament.
Immediately after Sheikh Selim, Opposition Whip Shawkot Chowdhury categorically said that Jatiya Party has been playing its due role as the opposition by joining each parliament sitting. "We don't want to be such opposition which will take salaries and other benefits by not joining the session over the years," he added.
He added, when requires the present opposition would criticize the government in the greater interests of the people of the country. "As an opposition we want to come up from the parliament boycott culture and help the government through making constructive criticism," he said.
Taking the floor on another point of order, Jatiya Party Leader and Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud lambasted TIB for its report saying that it had diminished the image of a sovereign parliament by making such comments.
"Now, you are talking so much about the parliament, but where have you been when the then opposition BNP did not turn up in the House over the years? Why did you not utter a single word when many innocent people were burnt alive from petrol bombs? He asked.
About the 10th parliamentary election, he said the election was held under the constitution, so there is no scope to go against the polls. "If, we believe in democracy, we have to accept the election," he added.
He said the government had to change the constitution by showing respect to the appellate division of the Supreme Court.
We can't go against the constitution following a demand of a certain political party, he said adding that such culture should be stopped for flourishing democracy.
On TIB report, he said the House would take decision against the report that undermined the dignity of the parliament.
Earlier, Deputy Speaker Md. Fazley Rabbi Mia termed the
TIB's report as "unfortunate" and said the responsibility of parliament is to uphold the constitution and the Jatiya Sangsad will do its best to this end.
