Stop marriage between working individuals!

Independent MP of Bogura-7 Md Rezaul Karim Bablu. Photo taken from Jatiya Sangsad website

Rezaul Karim Bablu, an independent lawmaker from Bogra-7 constituency, yesterday raised a bizarre demand in the parliament -- calling for stopping marriage between working men and women in the country to solve the unemployment problem.

He also proposed to the law minister that a law be enacted in this regard while discussing a bill.

He told the law minister that there are four crore unemployed individuals in the country at the moment.

"But this unemployment problem is not being solved as working men are marrying working women and vice versa. As a result, those who are unemployed are still unemployed," he said.

MP Bablu also said such marriages should be stopped as children of both working parents are often abused by domestic workers.

The whole parliament burst into laughter after hearing his comments.

In reply, Law Minister Anisul Huq flat out rejected Rezaul Karim Bablu's proposal, saying it was not constitutional.

"There is freedom of speech in the country, so anyone can speak. You can say whatever you want. Even if a member of parliament enjoys that right, we as representatives of the people cannot do or say whatever we want," the law minister said.

Later, taking part in another discussion, MP Bablu wanted to raise the issue again but he couldn't as Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury, who was presiding over the sitting at that time, asked him him to speak on the specific topic that was being discussed.

This is not the first time MP Bablu made such questionable comments.

Last year in November, he was widely criticised for blaming feminists for the increase in rape incidents around the country.