Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman today proposed that the government’s planned load‑shedding in Dhaka should begin from the National Parliament Complex.

He made the suggestion while taking the floor at the House around 8:00 pm, hours after State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit gave a statement on the power crisis.

“It is not desirable that those living in urban areas remain comfortable while rural people suffer. The spirit of the July Uprising calls for a discrimination‑free Bangladesh. There should be no disparity between urban and rural areas,” the state minister said while speaking under section of 300 of rules of procedure of the parliament.

Following discussions with the opposition leader, the government decided to conduct an initial trial of 110MW of load‑shedding in Dhaka, the junior minister announced.

Referring to the state minister’s statement, Shafiqur added, “I would request that this begin from parliament itself."

“If other parts of Dhaka face one hour of load‑shedding, then there should be one here too. Let it begin here, so people understand that we are trying to build a Bangladesh based on equality,” he said.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed responded, “Parliament must continue functioning. The House cannot be shut down.”

Shafiqur later clarified: “I meant the parliament, not the parliamentary session. There are many working hours outside the session. That is what I meant.”