A Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker’s remarks on the July National Charter in Jatiya Sangsad drew noisy protests from opposition lawmakers on Monday.

Speaking on a motion of thanks on the president’s address, BNP lawmaker for the Gazipur-2 constituency, Manjurul Karim, described the July Charter as ‘unnecessary’, saying that ‘debate over an unnecessary July Charter’ had continued since the very first day of the current parliament.

His comments drew immediate objections from opposition lawmakers.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Nurul Islam stood on a point of order, saying that it was unacceptable to describe the charter as unnecessary, particularly when the current government had emerged from a movement linked to the July uprising.

As lawmakers from different sides began shouting, speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed intervened.

He urged members to address their remarks through the chair and reminded them that parliament represents diverse political views.

Differences of opinion are a fundamental aspect of democracy, and all members have the right to express their views freely, the speaker said.

He called for orderly conduct, saying that members who disagree with remarks should respond during their own turn rather than interrupting others.

The sitting was then adjourned for Maghrib prayers.

After the break, the session resumed under the chairmanship of deputy speaker Kayser Kamal.

Chief whip Nurul Islam Moni later said that he had spoken to Manjurul Karim, who clarified that he had intended to say ‘unnecessary debate’, not ‘unnecessary July Charter’, and had suggested that the remark could be expunged if required.

The deputy speaker said that the matter would be examined and appropriate action would be taken.

During the debate, Jamaat lawmaker for the Netrokona-5 constituency, Masum Mustafa, protesting against the president’s address, said that praising the current president was akin to praising Sheikh Hasina.

He claimed that former prime minister Khaleda Zia would not have welcomed the president’s address if she were alive.

Mustafa also described the treasury bench’s assurance of implementing the July Charter as a ‘deceptive tactic’.

He said that the BNP had signed the charter with notes of dissent, avoiding major constitutional reforms.

National Citizen Party lawmaker Akhter Hossein said that they had aspired to build a new Bangladesh where policy-based discussions would replace political conflict and the use of muscle power, but the country had yet to reach that stage.

He expressed concern that reform proposals had gradually been sidelined, noting that, even in parliament, remarks had been made describing the July Charter as unnecessary.