Speaker's role in House once again in question

Running of the last session of parliament by Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, once again raised serious questions regarding maintaining the rules of procedure (RP) of the Jatiya Sangsad and how his rulings leave much to be desired.

Some bizarre incidents were recorded during the short session of parliamentary proceedings, like violation of the rules of procedure to congratulate the prime minister on her election as the Saarc chairperson, and the speaker's participation in some lawmakers' venomous attack on the media.

No important business was carried out in the last session, which was summoned only to meet the constitutional requirement for the House to meet in 60 days.

In absence of the main opposition Awami League in the House, the sessions were dull. Senior ministers and ruling BNP lawmakers did not attend the sessions regularly and on time. The prime minister's half an hour question answer session was postponed on Wednesday as she did not attend the House.

However, in his wrap up speech, Sircar claimed that the session was full of activities and lively.

VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE (RP)
According to the rules of procedure every session of the parliament should start with an hour of questions and answers unless it is mentioned to the contrary in the agenda at the beginning of the session.

At the beginning of the session on Sunday, Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar in his opening remarks declared that they gathered there to run the House in accordance with the constitution and the rules of procedure and to enact laws for the betterment of the nation.

But soon after his welcome address, the speaker did not hesitate to ignore the RP by giving the floor to the finance minister as he stood up to congratulate Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on her election as the Saarc chairperson.

Instead of starting the one-hour question answer session, the speaker went on to allow a half-hour unscheduled discussion and gave the floor to opposition lawmakers at the suggestion of some senior lawmakers of the treasury bench, who virtually directed him to do so.

Taking the floor, Jatiya Party (Ershad) lawmaker Rawshan Ershad and Jatiya Party (Manju) lawmaker Anwar Hossain Manju, congratulated the prime minister. The speaker did not interrupt them, but when another Jatiya Party lawmaker Golam Habib Dulal participating in the discussion mentioned former president HM Ershad's role in the implementation of the dream of late president Ziaur Rahman through the formation of the Saarc, the ruling party lawmakers protested and the speaker switched off his microphone.

On Tuesday, Sircar responded to Krishak Sramik Janata League's lone lawmaker Quader Siddiqui's allegation against him of violating the RP, by saying that his Sunday's decision was in accordance with the RP.

But the speaker had not informed the members of parliament (MP) anything in advance on Sunday when he allowed the unscheduled discussion. There is no scope in the RP for the speaker to keep any decision about a change in the schedule within himself while conducting a session.

Quader Siddiqui also challenged the propriety of the note of congratulation by the finance minister, as he is a member of the government. The speaker however did not respond to the comment.

Sircar allowed the ruling alliance lawmakers to go on a venomous attack on the free media. He did not expunge a single unparliamentary word delivered by the ruling party lawmakers against journalists.

SPEAKER IN DEFENCE OF THE GOVT
While dismissing the opposition lawmakers' demands for discussions on different important issues including rise of militants and price hike of essentials, the speaker's argument sounded like a reply from the treasury bench.

Dismissing the opposition lawmakers' demand for discussions on rise of militants and the killings of two judges the speaker said on Wednesday that the government intelligence agencies have launched a massive hunt to arrest the kingpins of the militants. So there is no need to discuss the issue in parliament, he claimed.

Referring to opposition lawmakers' demand for discussions on price hike of essentials and shortage of power and gas, the speaker defended the government saying it is trying hard to control the price of essentials and to improve the energy situation, so there was no need to discuss the matter.

Being the custodian of the House that exists to oversee the government's functions, what precedent was set in the parliamentary proceedings by the speaker's remarks?

MEDIA UNDER ATTACK
The speaker on Tuesday and Wednesday allowed a number of ministers and ruling alliance lawmakers to launch a broadside on the media for what they called "fake news". However no specific instance was cited of those so-called "fake" news.

It is unfortunate that the speaker himself participated in the attack on the media. Responding to the lawmakers' point of orders, the speaker in his rulings said under the existing laws journalists cannot be controlled, so new laws need to be enacted.

The speaker also echoed the lawmakers' view that the Press Council does not have enough power to force the newspapers to obey its laws.