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In a rare instance, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad expunged his own remark, ‘dark chapter’ of a person’s life, alongside comments made by a BNP lawmaker regarding Hefazat-e-Islam leader Moulana Mamunul Haque from the parliamentary record.
“I had earlier mentioned ‘the dark chapter’ of a person’s life. The ‘dark chapter’ word what came in my statement, has also been expunged,” he said, UNB reports.
The Speaker said this, referring to his own remark made following the comments of ruling party lawmaker Khondoker Abu Ashfaque (Dhaka-1) over the Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mamunul Haque in the House on Thursday.
Abu Ashfaque on Thursday said Mamunul Haque makes big statements, saying he will bring down the government over the budget and many other issues. “But what exactly happened when he was found with a woman in Gazipur in the name of a muta marriage?” he said.
Referring to the remarks of Abu Ashfaque, the Speaker on Sunday said Abu Ashfaque made several unexpected comments about so-called extramarital affair of Hefazat-e Islam leader Moulana Mamunul Haque on Thursday in Parliament.
He said Abu Ashfaque’s remarks were inappropriate because the person concerned had no opportunity to defend himself in Parliament.
The Speaker announced that his own remarks ‘dark chapter’ was also expunged, alongside the expungement of comments made by Abu Ashfaque.
He also urged lawmakers to exercise caution during budget discussions and other speeches in the future in this House.
“I expect you, MPs, to refrain from making adverse comments about a person who has no scope to defend themselves in this House,” he said.
On Sunday, the Speaker revisited the remarks made by Abu Ashfaque and himself after ruling party lawmaker Jalal Uddin (Kishoreganj-2) demanded the expungement of the recent remarks made by Jamaat lawmaker Abdul Muntakim (Nilphamari-4) who falsely claimed in the House that he was the son of a martyred freedom fighter.
“He claimed to be the son of a martyred freedom fighter, which is untrue. His father is still alive. The false statement has already been included in the parliamentary records, and I demand that it be expunged,” said Jalal Uddin.
Responding to the issue, the Speaker said the matter did not constitute a point of order but confirmed that the concerned MP had admitted the mistake.
“He met me in my chamber and said it was a slip of the tongue. His father is still alive, and he himself acknowledged the error. This unintentional mistake will be expunged from the parliamentary proceedings,” said Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.