Opposition leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has proposed that the government’s ongoing “load management” programme be implemented from the National Parliament complex as a gesture of solidarity with the public facing power shortages.
“To express solidarity with the suffering of ordinary people, Parliament should also be brought under this load shedding system,” he said.
He made the proposal while speaking in parliament on Thursday during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. The 20th day of the first session of the 13th Parliament was presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.
Shafiqur said the deputy minister for Power and Energy had proposed load management in Dhaka, and suggested that the Parliament area should be included in the program.
“If one hour of load shedding is carried out in other parts of Dhaka, then electricity should also be cut here for one hour,” he said.
He added that such a step would demonstrate equality in governance and national unity.
“If it starts from here, people will understand that we truly want to build Bangladesh as a uniform country,” he said.
In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram said Parliament sessions must continue without disruption.
The Ameer later clarified that he was referring to the Parliament complex outside sitting hours, noting that several administrative and other activities take place on the premises beyond official sessions.
