Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has issued a stern ruling in the National Parliament following an uproar and repeated interruptions during a speech by veteran lawmaker Fazlur Rahman.
Admonishing the Members of Parliament (MPs), the Speaker warned that creating tension over trivial matters is entirely inappropriate, as such behaviour diminishes the public’s respect and honour for the National Parliament.
The incident occurred during Tuesday’s parliamentary session while Fazlur Rahman, the MP for Kishoreganj-4, was delivering his address on the thanks motion for the President’s speech. The proceedings descended into chaos as Opposition members repeatedly obstructed his speech, leading to a heated environment.
At one point, Fazlur Rahman alleged that he was being taunted with the derogatory term “pagla” (madman).
As tensions escalated, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stood from his seat to restore order, directing members to remain calm. He reminded the House that the Jatiya Sangsad is the highest legislature in Bangladesh, where every member is elected by the people’s vote.
The Speaker advised the lawmakers to thoroughly review the Rules of Procedure, cautioning that the House would cease to be a National Parliament if it were not conducted according to these established rules. Recalling “bitter experiences” from the past, he urged the members to maintain parliamentary etiquette.
Highlighting the significance of freedom of speech, the Speaker noted that it is unrealistic to expect the ideologies of the Treasury and Opposition benches to align. He maintained that if a member objects to a statement, there is ample opportunity to rebut it with logic later, but disturbing or creating a ruckus during someone’s speech is unacceptable.
Expressing his frustration, the Speaker remarked that it was “extremely regrettable” to see senior and experienced lawmakers behaving like children. He pointed out that many members are now grandfathers and that their grandchildren might be watching the session from the gallery. He questioned what the next generation would learn from such conduct.
During the ruling, the Speaker reminded the House that it is an obligatory duty for all members to sit down and remain silent whenever the Speaker stands to speak. Order was eventually restored following the Speaker’s intervention, allowing Fazlur Rahman to conclude his scheduled speech.
