Lawmakers from Jamaat‑e‑Islami yesterday left the chamber in protest against the exclusion of opposition MPs from chairmanships of standing committees in the 13th Parliament.
Around 9:10am, opposition members led by Deputy Leader of the Opposition Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher made the move minutes after 10 new committees were formed, all chaired by BNP lawmakers.
Under the Rules of Procedure, 50 standing committees must be formed within the third session of parliament. So far, 25 have been constituted, including 19 ministry‑related ones. Only Taher has been made chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, while none from the opposition bench were given ministry‑related chairmanships.
Rising on a point of order, Taher said the opposition was “losing interest” in staying in the House due to the treasury bench’s behaviour. He claimed the government had earlier agreed to give the opposition 26 percent of chairmanships, even collecting a list of 10 names.
“I feel the government, because of its two‑thirds majority, is becoming somewhat reckless,” he said, accusing Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni of not tabling the proposal reached out of discussions.
“We are not children to be lured with lollipops… Chairmanship is our right, and the government is ignoring that.”
Taher said the treasury bench cannot hold all chairmanships, adding, “The will of the majority party has become the law, the decision of Parliament. That is dictatorship.”
Urging the government not to practise discrimination inside or outside Parliament, Taher warned that if future committees were formed in the same manner, opposition MPs would not remain in the chamber.
After his remarks, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed took the floor.
As he was speaking, Jamaat members left the chamber. At least two opposition MPs -- NCP’s Hasnat Abdullah and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Sayed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala -- initially stayed, though Hanzala left shortly after.
Contacted later, Jamaat parliamentary spokesperson Najibur Rahman said they had not staged a walkout but simply left the House.
As they departed, Salahuddin remarked that the opposition was not interested in hearing his reply.
He said opposition members could not claim chairmanships in proportion to their seats, as there was no such provision or precedent. Refuting Taher’s claims, he said: “There was no formal discussion about giving the opposition 10 chairmanships.”
He noted that the July National Charter pledged opposition chairmanships proportionate to their seats but said this would only be implemented after constitutional amendments.
“Once the charter is implemented, committees will be reconstituted, and the opposition will receive chairmanships proportionately. But the opposition is not cooperating in implementing the charter,” he said, urging the opposition to “do politics inside Parliament, not outside.”
On Sunday, a debate between the treasury bench and the opposition over who should lead parliamentary oversight bodies brought the two sides into a confrontation in the House.
The ruling party set a precondition for allowing the opposition to chair standing committees: opposition lawmakers must first agree to participate in the special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendment.
Opposition lawmakers stood their ground, demanding a proportionate share of committee chairs and refusing to link the issue with their participation in the constitutional amendment committee.
NEW COMMITTEES
Gayeshwar Chandra Roy was made chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Selim Bhuiyan on Education, and Selima Rahman on Women and Children Affairs.
Whip Rakibul Islam was named chairman of the Road Transport and Bridges committee, while Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui took charge of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
Kalim Uddin Ahmed was made chairman of the Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology committee, and Amanullah Aman of Information and Broadcasting.
Whip GK Gaus was named chairman of the Environment committee, Naser Rahman of Land, and Rafiqul Islam Jamal of Religious Affairs.
