Speaker Hafiz Uddin Worries about future of this Parliament
Collected Photo
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad (Bir Bikram) has expressed concern over the future of the incumbent National Parliament. While addressing the Members of Parliament, he said, "I am worried about the future of this Parliament. The way I have seen attempts today to obstruct each other's opportunity to speak is not a good sign for Parliament."
"The country's Parliament has many bad records in the past. Even the Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament was killed," the Speaker mentioned.
The Speaker made these remarks on Thursday afternoon during a parliamentary session, following risen tensions between the ruling party and the opposition.
Drawing on his 40 years of experience in Parliament, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said, "The current Parliament has been formed through the people's rightful election." He called upon members from both the ruling and opposition parties to exercise patience and cooperate in parliamentary proceedings.
Democracy has been achieved after much hardship. Every Member of Parliament has a responsibility to ensure democracy prevails. "I would urge you all to read the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. When the Speaker speaks, everyone must sit and listen. If these laws and rules are not followed or are violated, then this Parliament will not last long," Hafiz Uddin added.
How the Tension Began
During the day's session, in the question-and-answer segment, Hasnat Abdullah, Member of Parliament of Cumilla-4 constituency (National Citizen Party, NCP), asked a question to the Home Minister. In response, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, "Mr. Speaker, I couldn't understand if this was a question or a speech from Paltan."
The Home Minister's remarks sparked uproar and tension in Parliament. At one point, the Home Minister said, "If you don't let me speak, then what is freedom of speech?"
Immediately after this, an uproar began in Parliament. The opposition demanded the expunging of the Home Minister's remarks.
At one point, the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, stood up to speak. He said, "The Home Minister has started using these new words ('speech from Paltan') again. What does he think of himself? He has shown misrule in Parliament from the very beginning. He has always given speeches with contempt. I am not here as his student. If he is a teacher, let him open a university, and he can give his speeches there." He added, "This is the culture of fascism. I say with responsibility that he must express regret."
How an attack on the Speaker had cocurred
In September 1958, during a session of the then East Pakistan Provincial Assembly, a clash and scuffle broke out among members. At that time, Deputy Speaker Shahed Ali Patwari, who was in the chair, was struck on the head by a part of a heavy wooden desk or another object. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died while undergoing treatment. Shortly after this unprecedented political violence, martial law was enforced in Pakistan in October of the same year.
