Parliament witnessed heated exchanges on Wednesday as the government and opposition traded barbs over the implementation of the July National Charter-2025, with the ruling party accusing the opposition of “whisper politics” and the opposition threatening a fresh movement if the referendum verdict is not implemented.
Presided over by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, ruling party MP AKM Fazlul Haque Milon said the July Charter was “not a garland of words” but a realistic commitment written in the “ink of blood” that must be implemented letter by letter.
“The opposition is doing politics over this. They walk out. Before that, they whisper to each other. Whisper politics is going on over this July Charter,” he said, alleging that those who remained silent during past disappearances and oppression were now trying to hijack the achievements of the movement.
Opposition Jamaat-e-Islami MP Md. Raihan Siraji strongly protested, saying two votes were held on 12 February – one for government formation and one for state formation.
“Government formation has been deemed permissible, while state formation has been put in the ICU. We have recognized one of two children born from the same womb, while the other, even after passing a DNA test, we are strangling and sending to the morgue. If the referendum verdict is not implemented, there will be another movement,” he warned.
Jamaat MP Kamal Hossain alleged that he stood in line on the road for up to two hours until 2 am but could not get fuel for his car.
“Oil is only in this great parliament – so much oil is being wasted here. Oil outside is no longer to be found,” he said during the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address.
He also complained that despite having gas connections, residents in his area were not getting gas due to dilapidated 30-40-year-old pipelines. “Mothers are having to cook lunch at dinner time, and cooking at night is happening at 2 am,” he added.
Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) MP Hasnat Abdullah delivered an emotional speech, tearfully demanding the urgent widening of a highway in his area that he said has turned into a “procession of death.”
“Twenty-three people have died in road accidents in just this month alone. When we speak to the minister or the administration, they talk about administrative complexities. No work has been done on this road for 10-12 years,” he said, standing on a point of order.
He noted that under a Line of Credit, the highway was supposed to be six lanes but is currently only 18 feet wide. “I cannot show my face in the area. The people there are so angry they will tie me up. I beg you, get the road done quickly.”
Other MPs who spoke included Zainal Abedin Faruk, Sheikh Md Rezaul Islam, Md Lutfor Rahman, Fakhruddin Ahmed, Abul Kalam, and Md. Hasan Rajib Pradhan, among others.
