Return to parliament, Samad Azad urges opposition lawmakers

As the House continued to hear a dull discussion on the President's address, Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad yesterday advised the opposition lawmakers to return to Parliament in compliance with their constitutional obligation, reports UNB.

"You have kept your eyes shut and lost your way. Return to Parliament. This is the right way under the Constitution," Azad said while taking part in the thanks giving motion on the President's New Year's address to Parliament.

He ridiculed the opposition's long march as "wrong march" and said the opposition wants to put the country in the wrong track.

Referring to current political dispute, the Foreign Minister urged the opposition to settle the difference through discussion in Parliament, which, he said, is the only alternative recognized in a democracy allover the world.

State Minister for Information Prof Abu Sayeed and a dozen of Awami League MPs joined the general discussion, which lost its importance in the absence of the opposition.

Prof Sayeed was bitter about Begum Zia's alliance with Jamaat and Jatiya Party against the government. He said Begum Zia, Ershad and Golam Azam belong to the same camp that believes in the spirit of 1947 and outlook of Pakistan.

This quarter, he said, subscribes to the politics of conspiracy, killing and coup against democracy, rule of law and ballot. He said politics of those that want to change power through killing and conspiracy no longer exist.

Prof Sayeed accused late President Ziaur Rahman of politically rehabilitating anti-liberation elements in post-75 era. He said Zia might have fought the war "by chance" but was not a freedom fighter imbibed with the spirit and ideals of liberation war.

He said Zia made Shah Azizur Rahman as Prime Minister and Abdul Aleem of Joypurhat as Minister who openly opposed independence. Besides, Zia wanted to change the national flag and national anthem. Had he (Zia) been a freedom fighter, he couldn't have done so.

Other treasury bench members who joined the discussion were: State Minister for Livestock Satish Chandra Roy, Prof Panna Kaiser, Shahabuddin, Haji Mokbul Hossain, Dhirendra Nath Shaha, Harunor Rashid, Imdadul Huq Bhuiyan, Advocate Moslemuddin, Segupta Yasmin, Shah Azizur Rahman and Mustafizur Rahman.