The main Opposition BNP has extended its support to a penalty proposal, put forward by a ruling party lawmaker, for using unparliamentary language in the House.
“Treasury bench members are intentionally making indecent remarks against our leaders. Some Awami League lawmakers are of the opinion that it should be stopped. One of them proposed a fine of Tk. 30,000 for using vulgar language in the House. We fully support it,” BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said on Tuesday.
He was addressing a discussion, “Indian Container Terminal in Narayanganj for whose interest“, at the National Press Club.
“We’ve urged the Speaker to create a congenial atmosphere in Parliament. Despite a rule issued by the Speaker, ruling party lawmakers have been making indecent comments against us. If they can make such indecorous remarks, why should we use restrained language against them,” he asked.
On Monday, Awami League lawmaker Zunaid Ahmed Palak had urged the Speaker to take stern measures against treasury bench members for using unparliamentary language in the House and to uphold the dignity of all MPs.
Moudud said the government has become desperate to win the Gazipur City Corporation poll, scheduled for July 6, after facing a massive debacle in the recently held elections to four city corporations. He criticised the government, as well as the Election Commission, for forcing Awami League’s rebel candidate Jahangir Alam to stay off the GCC contest.
Iterating his party’s stand on restoration of the non-party caretaker government, Moudud said the BNP-led 18-party Opposition alliance will never take part in the next general election if it is held under a partisan administration.
The Free Thinkers’ Forum organised the event, with Alamgir Mohiuddin, editor of the daily, Naya Diganta, in the chair. BNP leaders Syed Motzzem Hossain Alal, Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, and Ruhul Ami Gazi, president of the Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union, were also present.
-With The Independent input
