No state work is more important than a parliamentary session, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said on Tuesday, as he urged ministers to ensure their presence during important discussions in the House.
The Speaker’s remarks came in response to concerns raised by Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman over the frequent absence of ministers from concerned ministries during parliamentary debates.
Speaking on a point of order, the opposition leader said the Speaker has been calling for participation from all parties to keep parliament effective, but often when discussions are held on a particular ministry, the concerned minister or responsible representative is not present.
“Members of parliament raise various important issues. It is necessary for the concerned ministers to hear those matters directly. If cabinet members are not regularly present, the effectiveness of parliamentary discussions decreases,” he said.
The opposition leader also questioned discipline in the parliament chamber, noting that some members can be seen discussing in small groups during sessions, which undermines the dignity of parliament and makes it difficult for others to follow discussions.
The Speaker said the issues raised by the opposition leader are extremely important. “I reiterate that no state work is more important than a parliamentary session. Among all state activities, the parliament session holds the highest priority,” he said.
He urged ministers to be present in parliament on time and listen attentively to MPs’ speeches on matters related to their ministries, and to try to take necessary steps to address the issues raised.
Regarding discipline, the Speaker said he occasionally sees small groups discussing and members leaving their seats to talk elsewhere and has even noticed instances of “floor crossing”.
“Avoid group discussions inside the parliament. Stay at your designated seats as much as possible, participate in the proceedings, and listen to the discussions attentively. Everyone’s cooperation is needed to maintain the discipline of parliament,” he said.
After the point of order was settled, the general discussion on the proposed budget for 2026-27 began, with Sirajganj-3 MP Mohammad Ainul Haque speaking first.
