Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar did not entertain the notices as the treasury bench has already refused to hold discussions on any of the issues adjourning other businesses of the House.

He however came up with a clarification about the opposition lawmakers' demands while disposing the notices. A minute afterwards, the treasury and opposition bench lawmakers traded blames against each other in an unscheduled debate.

Sircar defending rejection of the notices on crises of diesel, power and fertiliser, price hike of essentials, corruption, and law and order slide said he hopes the government will take steps to deal with these.

On the issue of rise of militants, the speaker said intelligence agencies are investigating it and some kingpins have already been arrested. "I hope activities of the militants will be stopped."

Rejecting the notices, he also referred the Business Advisory Committee's decision for not holding any discussion on any specific topic.

About ongoing fuel crisis, the speaker referred to a statement of the minister in charge of the energy ministry in parliament.

Thirteen opposition lawmakers, 12 from Awami League (AL) and one from Jatiya Party, submitted the notices.

The AL lawmakers also demanded discussions on preparation of fresh roll ignoring the High Court directives, appointment of two election commissioners "on political consideration", August 17 blasts last year and August 21 carnage on an AL rally in 2004.

On the August 21 carnage, the speaker said the House has already held a discussion on the issue. He did not specify the reasons for rejecting the notices demanding discussions on opposition's reform proposals.

The speaker however said contents of some notices are not related to any contemporary matters and some are not clear.

"The lawmakers will have a scope to discuss the issues while taking part in the thanks giving motion on the president's speech. Besides, every day unscheduled discussion is being held in the House on the issues," he said.

UNSCHEDULED DISCUSSION
The ruling alliance lawmakers yesterday locked horns with the AL lawmakers over different issues, following which both sides traded blames against each other.

The lawmakers of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and AL took part in the discussions on point of orders that lasted over half an hour.

A remark by State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman about the leader of the opposition triggered off heat in the House for a few minutes.

The state minister termed Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina's behaviour audacious. "I condemn this kind of statement," he said quoting a statement of Hasina, who on February 26 demanded arrest of the prime minister and industries minister on charge of patronising militancy.

In response, the AL lawmakers started making noise to protest against the state minister's statement.

Taking floor earlier, AL lawmaker Abdur Razzak said Islami Chhatra Shibir has threatened police administration with severe consequences if its leader Mahbubul Alam Salehi is arrested in connection with the killing of a Rajshahi University teacher.

"Amid such threats, the police administration cannot discharge its duty. Jamaat-Shibir is responsible for downslide in the country's law and order as they are involved in militant activities," he said.

Jamaat lawmaker Delwar Hossain Saidee taking floor protested against the AL lawmaker's remark, saying there is no evidence of Jamaat's involvement in militancy.

Another Jamaat lawmaker Shah Ruhul Quddus demanded that the speaker should expunge a word used by an AL lawmaker in a notice for imposing a ban on Jamaat politics.

BNP lawmaker Abdul Mannan Talukdar taking part in the discussion used an offensive word against AL lawmaker Mohammad Nasim. In the face of the AL lawmakers' protest, the speaker expunged the word.