'Maligning MPs': JS adopts notice over Observer news report
In a rare instance, parliament last night unanimously adopted a notice on violation of Awami League lawmaker Enamul Haque's special privilege and sent it to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Privilege to look into the matter.
In the notice, the ruling party lawmaker from Rajshahi-4 said Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Observer, “tarnished his image” at home and abroad by running a report on January 23 under the headline “Police await PM's order to crack down on drug lords”.
Enamul said the newspaper mentioned several lawmakers' names, including his, and published their photographs only to “defame them”.
Following the question-answer session yesterday, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury announced she received a notice with the newspaper clipping from Enamul on violation of his special privilege.
She then allowed the lawmaker to raise his notice under section 166 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
Speaking about his notice, Enamul said a section of newspapers has started to “malign lawmakers and politicians' image” when the country is making progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Pointing to media reports on AL MP Manzurul Islam Liton of Gaibandha-1, who was shot dead on December 31 in his village home, Enamul said “media created the plot” to kill the lawmaker by running “false news against him over firing shots in the air in self-defence”.
He requested the Speaker to summon the chiefs of the newspapers “involved in character assassinations of MPs and politicians” and to quiz them on their “false, fabricated and biased reports”.
Enamul said the lawmakers would resign if the Daily Observer can produce evidence in favour of its report. “The newspaper should be punished if it fails to produce evidence.”
He also supported the statement of AL MP Shamim Osman who in parliament on Wednesday blasted The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo for running “false reports” on Liton and the seven-murder in Narayanganj respectively.
Enamul demanded the Speaker summon and quiz Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, also the prime minister's media adviser.
“We want a remedy from you as you are our guardian,” he said.
The House adopted the notice by a unanimous voice vote amid desk-thumping by the MPs.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin, also the chairman of the standing committee, sent the notice to the parliamentary watchdog.
Sources at the Parliament Secretariat said the fifth parliament (1991-1996) last sent a notice to the House's privilege committee.
Then AL MP Salahuddin Yusuf raised a notice on violation of his special privilege, claiming that he was not allowed to use the VIP lounge of then Zia International Airport.
The section 166 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament says, “If the Speaker holds that the matter proposed to be discussed is in order, he shall, after the questions and before the Orders of the Day are entered upon, call upon the member concerned who shall rise in his place and while asking for leave to raise the question of privilege, make a short statement relevant thereto.”
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