Led by Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, the opposition staged a walkout in parliament this evening, alleging a breach of consensus and a collapse of trust over the ratification of ordinances issued during the interim government’s tenure.
Lawmakers from Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Khelafat Majlish left the chamber at around 7:37 pm.
Just minutes before the walkout, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said that there had been an understanding in both the parliamentary special committee and the advisory committee that all 133 ordinances issued by the interim government would be ratified.
“Yet we are not seeing many of those bills. We have serious concerns about the ordinances on enforced disappearance, the Police Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission,” Shafiqur Rahman told the House.
Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said the government had not gone beyond the recommendations of the special committee. He said there had been discussions over the ordinances on enforced disappearance and the National Human Rights Commission.
“The bill will be reintroduced after further scrutiny,” the law minister said.
The opposition leader took the floor again and accused the government of breaching the consensus.
After speeches by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Chief Whip Nurul Islam, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said the chief whip had assured the House that the remaining bills would be placed in the next session.
Taking the floor once more, the opposition leader repeated his allegation that the consensus had been broken.
At this stage, the speaker said, “It seems you had already decided to walk out. You have the right to do that. Democracy operates by the rule of the majority.”
The opposition leader then told the speaker, “You had promised to ensure justice for all. But today, we are not receiving justice from you.”
At this stage, Law Minister Md Asaduzzman briefed about the special committee’s decision and several other issues.
Following that, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said, “In sha Allah, we will meet again, right here. But for today, we are walking out with sadness.”
