MPs of treasury, opposition laud each other in JS

The lawmakers of the treasury and the opposition benches in the Jatiya Sangsad last night praised each other for their constructive roles in making the current parliament a “most effective one”.

Taking the floor on a point of order, a number of them said the country's democratic system would have suffered a big setback if the January 5 national election had not taken place in 2014.

More than half of the 300 MPs got elected unopposed in the one-sided election and the Awami League-led alliance assumed office for the second consecutive term. 

The BNP and most other political parties boycotted the election as their demand for holding the polls under a caretaker government was not met.

Yesterday, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told the JS, “This parliament is very effective.”  He also lauded the opposition for its constructive role.

Pointing to the critics of the current parliament and the opposition, Tofail said, “Those who contested only two polls in their life and were elected unopposed now raise questions.” 

Mentioning the name of Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, the Awami League lawmaker said he had also been elected unopposed. “When he raised the question of legitimacy, we became astonished.

“We always want parliament to be effective. During the budget session, lawmakers from both the treasury and the opposition benches criticised the government... The proceedings of the House ran smoothly... Nobody used any abusive words,” he mentioned.

Referring to media reports on quorum crisis, treasury bench Chief Whip ASM Feroz said, “Many write reports on quorum crisis due to absence of lawmakers. But this is not true.”

If lawmakers are not seen in the parliament chamber during a session, it doesn't mean they are not present in the JS. They stay in the lobby which is part of the House. The ministers also work in their rooms, he added.

According to the Rules of Procedure of the JS, it requires at least 60 MPs to have a quorum.

Taking the floor, AL lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said election is a precondition for democracy.

“Though Khaleda Zia called for boycotting the polls, people did not respond to her call.

“It is a political party's internal matter whether it will take part in an election or not,” he mentioned.

Another AL lawmaker, Abdul Matin Khasru, said the BNP has realised that it made a mistake by not participating in the last national polls.

“I hope they will contest the election this time as there is no way to assume office without election,” he added.

Referring to the culture of boycotting JS sessions, Jatiya Party lawmaker Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu said the AL boycotted parliament sessions in 1991 and 2001 and the BNP in 1996 and 2009.

Terming all the previous parliaments ineffective, he said, “This parliament has been running truly effectively.”

Another JP lawmaker, Kazi Feroz Rashid, said JP lawmakers walked out of the House twice, but didn't boycott the JS. 

After the unscheduled discussion, Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Mia, who was in the chair at that time, said, “I think the ninth and the tenth parliament have been the most effective ones. I have not seen such parliaments in the past.”

The current parliament, which stepped into its fifth year yesterday, went into its first session on January 29, 2014.