Opposition walks out to protest 'no remedy' from Speaker

Opposition members of parliament walked out of the House on Wednesday in protest against what they described as the speaker's failure to give a ruling on an adjournment motion regarding convening a Constitutional Reform Council meeting, and over 'getting no remedy" on the issue.

Opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman announced the walkout and led opposition MPs out of the chamber.

On Tuesday, parliament held a discussion on an adjournment motion concerning the convening of a Constitutional Reform Council as part of constitutional reform. During that discussion, the ruling party proposed forming an all-party special parliamentary committee to amend the constitution. At the time, Rahman said the opposition would consider such a committee positively if it centred on the Constitutional Reform Council, provided that it included equal representation from both the government and opposition.

On Wednesday, after the question-and-answer session, Rahman rose on a point of order and referred to the previous day's adjournment motion. Addressing the speaker, he said that since the issue involved public expectations, a referendum, and reflected the views of nearly 70 per cent of the people, they had hoped to receive a remedy through the speaker.

He added that he had requested a decision but could not understand whether any ruling had been made, and sought a clear clarification.

In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said the proposal had been an adjournment motion and had been taken up in his absence. He noted that in Bangladesh's 53-year parliamentary history, only three adjournment motions had been accepted. The motion was allowed under the deputy speaker to facilitate a lively discussion.

The speaker added that issues which can only be resolved through legislation cannot be addressed through an adjournment motion. However, he said the opposition would still be given opportunities to speak further if they wished.

Rahman replied that they had sought a remedy and that the matter was not related to any single party. He said both the ruling and opposition parties had agreed on the issue before the election, had spoken in favour of it, and had campaigned on it.

"We did not receive any remedy-not us, but the people. Their verdict has not been reflected or valued. Sitting in the opposition, we cannot accept this disregard. Therefore, we are staging this walkout in protest," he said.

The speaker responded: "Honourable opposition leader, you did not allow me to complete my statement. I listened to you fully. It is your right to walk out. However, I would like to say that another adjournment motion will be considered shortly. I believe you will find your answers there and will be able to speak more openly."

In reply, the opposition leader said they were aware of that notice as well and believed it had been brought forward to suppress the original motion submitted by the opposition. For that reason, he said, they were walking out in protest against both issues.

The speaker then said: "The notice has not even been formally presented. How can you conclude that it is intended to suppress another? I request you to be patient and listen to the contents."

Rahman responded that the notice had already been read in the speaker's absence by the relevant member and that they had heard it, adding that their decision to walk out was made with full understanding of both issues.

The speaker then said: "According to parliamentary practice, you have the right to walk out."

Following this exchange, opposition MPs left the chamber.

Afterwards, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said: "The opposition leader has chosen to walk out; that is part of parliamentary culture and their right. However, it would be appropriate for our response to also be placed on record for a minute or two."

He added that the adjournment motion presided over by the deputy speaker in the speaker's absence had been accepted, but he had raised objections at the time.

"The rules do not allow issues that can be resolved through legislation to be discussed under an adjournment motion. It was accepted as a matter of generosity and because it was raised as a nationally important issue. Two hours were allocated for discussion, and it was debated. But since it was procedurally irregular and already discussed, parliamentary practice is that once an issue is 'talked out', there is no provision for a vote on its resolution," he said.

The minister further explained: "There is provision for a vote only on whether an adjournment motion will be taken up or not. If a vote had been allowed at that stage, the motion itself would not have been admitted."

Responding to Rahman's claim that another adjournment motion on the similar issue had been read out by a ruling party member, the minister said: "No such motion has been read out by us. What the opposition leader said is not accurate. A private member may submit such a motion, and it is for you (the speaker) to consider it. Since you have already accepted a similar motion from the opposition leader, a private member may claim the right to raise it as well."

After the walkout, the opposition leader and Jamaat amir Shafiqur Rahman told a media briefing that they would launch a movement for constitutional reform involving the public.

He said: "What option do we have other than a movement? We will carry out a movement, and we will do it with the people. However, our 11-party alliance will meet soon and take a decision."

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com