In an unprecedented development, a ruling party MP has been boycotting Parliament’s ongoing budget session since June 15, feeling “humiliated” in the legislature by Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.
Manirul Haque Chowdhury, a ruling MP elected from the Cumilla-6 constituency, has been staying away from the Jatiya Sangsad sittings because some portions of his speech were “misinterpreted” and “unjustifiably expunged” from the parliamentary proceedings.
The lawmaker also said he was humiliated by a parliamentary statement made by the Chief Whip of the Opposition, Nahid Islam, who alleged that Chowdhury had committed an “unpardonable offence” and made “racist comments” about the wife of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher.
While parliament boycotts by the opposition due to grievances with the decisions of Speaker or Deputy Speaker is commonplace in Bangladeshi politics, a ruling party MP raising allegations of humiliation in Parliament against Speaker or Deputy Speaker is unprecedented, according to parliamentary officials.
Chowdhury continued his boycott up to Saturday, June 27.
On July 16, he also sent an official letter to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad seeking clarification regarding his deputy’s decision. Speaker requested him to rejoin the House, but he stayed away.
Deputy Speaker Kamal is informed about Chowdhury’s allegations against him.
“I have been humiliated in the Sangsad. I cannot swallow the humiliation. On June 16, I formally wrote a letter to the Honourable Speaker. The Honourable Speaker called and requested me to attend the Sangsad, but I am not going. I will only turn up at the Sangsad when I am able to swallow the humiliation. I am waiting justice. You can write it,” Chowdhury told TIMES of Bangladesh.
“I did not use a single unparliamentary or obscene word, but some portions of my speech were misinterpreted and unjustifiably expunged.
“The Chief Whip of the Opposition stated that I committed an unpardonable offence and made mean, racist comments. Which of my words were unparliamentary or obscene? I am dismayed,” said Chowdhury.
“I have sought an explanation from Speaker because I have the right to know why my speech was expunged. What offence did I commit? What racist comment did I make?”
He said he repeatedly tried to make his position clear in the House, but he wasn’t given he chance. “I am aggrieved; I did not expect this.”
Row over veil
The trouble originated on June 14 when Chowdhury delivered his speech on the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with Deputy Speaker Kamal chairing.
In his speech, he recalled a gathering of all MPs of the 8th Parliament (2001-06) elected from the Cumilla district. At the informal function, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, an MP of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the incumbent Deputy Leader of the Opposition, came with his wife, who was completely veiled.
“After entering the room, I saw something walking. I asked Taher Bhai, ‘Where is Bhabi (Taher’s wife)?’ He replied, ‘Here she is.’ Then I told him, ‘How will I understand that you did not change (your wife)?’” said Chowdhury jokingly.
Looking at the veiled female Jamaat MPs sitting in Parliament, Chowdhury said: “All of them are meritorious. I listened to the speeches of two MPs; they can achieve a lot in the coming days, a good future awaits them; they are learned. But I do not know who you are. You can see this side (the Treasury Bench). What will we understand by looking at that side (the Opposition Bench)? This is not fair.”
The ruling party MPs laughed and thumped their desks, while the Opposition Bench MPs launched a protest. The MPs belonging to Jamaat and the National Citizens Party (NCP) stood up, started shouting, and demanded that Chowdhury’s “objectionable” expressions be expunged from the proceedings.
Deputy Speaker said to Chowdhury: “Honourable Member, we should not talk about individual freedom.”
He also urged the opposition lawmakers to take their seats, calling for a calm. However, the opposition MPs continued to shout without microphones.
“My speech was not targeted at anyone. I just narrated an old story. I have not undermined anyone. If someone feels hurt, I apologise,” Chowdhury said.
“I did not expect such a situation. If any of my statements, even indirectly, hurt someone, I strongly urge that the expressions be expunged. They misinterpreted my statement. Not everybody has the ability to understand it,” he argued.
However, Deputy Speaker told him, “You talked about individual freedom; that portion will be expunged.”
The opposition MPs thanked him by thumping their desks. Chowdhury repeatedly sought floor, but he was denied.
As the House resumed after the Asr recess, the Chief Whip of the Opposition Nahid, took the floor and said, “Manirul Haque Chowdhury has insulted the wife of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; this is an unpardonable offence. He talked about the dress of the female opposition MPs, which is a violation of religious freedom. He made mean, racist comments.”
Deputy Speaker Kamal said, “I have given my decision on this issue and expunged the unparliamentary expressions. In Parliament, we will not talk about religious freedom.”
Chowdhury sought the floor again to defend himself, but he was unsuccessful. Deputy Speaker, however, did not rule on whether Nahid Islam’s statement contained any unparliamentary expressions, which apparently angered Chowdhury.
According to Rule 274 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, an MP deserves an opportunity to defend himself if another MP utters anything objectionable while naming him.
Deputy Speaker did not offer Chowdhury the opportunity to counter Nahid’s allegations that he had committed an “unpardonable offence” and made “mean, racist comments”.
Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee tried to defend the ruling party lawmaker. Taking the floor, he said that joking and laughter were part of parliamentary activities, adding that Manirul Haque Chowdhury’s comment on the wife of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was a “light one.”
“A ruling has been issued from the Speaker’s chair. This matter is closed,” said Deputy Speaker, asking minister Anee to sit down.
Then, Chief Whip Nurul Islam requested the chair to give the floor to Manirul Haque Chowdhury, but Deputy Speaker was unconvinced.
He said, “I will give the floor if I feel it is necessary.”
Unsuccessful and dissatisfied, Manirul Haque Chowdhury sat down.
This correspondent went to the office of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad for his comments, but his private secretary said the Speaker was busy running the parliamentary session.
However, Speaker in recent days assigns Deputy Speaker to preside over the House.
“Since the matter involves complaints against a decision of the Deputy Speaker, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on it,” deputy speaker Kamal told TIMES.
“Any Member of Parliament has the freedom to seek redress from the Speaker of the House if he feels aggrieved by any decision of the chair. I personally welcome the complaint letter that was sent to the Speaker against me,” said Kamal.
TIMES contacted Nahid Islam on June 24 at his Parliament office, asking him whether making unparliamentary or objectionable expressions in the House was an “offence” and what “racist” comments Md. Manirul Haque Chowdhury had made in his speech.
“I will not make any comment on this issue,” said Nahid.
Kamran Reza Chowdhury is a freelance journalist.
