Opposition BNP has backed a ruling Awami League MP’s proposal for imposing fine to curb exchange of offensive remarks in Parliament.A BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed said his party endorsed the proposal as it is a “decent and cultured” party.
“We support the ruling party’s proposal to stop the use of indecent remarks. We hope that no-one will utter indecent words in Parliament (once the penalty system is introduced),” Moudud said while participating at a discussion organised by Free Thinkers Forum at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
“Can’t I say anything if the ruling party MPs hurl slanderous comments at our party leader? We had been abstaining from the House due to such distasteful remarks made by some ruling party members in the past. For the past few days we have been again witnessing use of indecent words in the Parliament. It is shameful for us to make such indecent comments.”
The senior BNP lawmaker said that since the ruling party MPs proposed a fine of Tk 30,000 for indecent comments at Parliament, so he hoped, they would maintain decency in the Parliament.
The main opposition party returned to the Parliament on the very first day of the ongoing budget session, after an 83-day long abstention, ending a protracted boycott demanding restoration of the scrapped caretaker government system for overseeing elections.
On June 9, Parliament was rocked by unparliamentary and vulgar words uttered by BNP MPs Rehana Akhter Renu, Shammi Akhter and Asifa Ashrafi Papia and Rasheda Begum– and ruling Awami League MPs Nazma Akhter, Apu Ukil and Fajilatun Nessa Bappi – all members of Parliament from reserved seats for women.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury expunged their “indecent” remarks from the proceedings.
The Speaker on June 16 issued a ruling cautioning all members about using unparliamentary words while delivering speeches.
The Speaker switched off mike of BNP lawmaker Rehana Akter Ranu six times on Sunday for using improper language.
On Monday, ruling party MP Zunaid Ahmed Palak, while giving personal explanation under the Section 274 of the Rules of Procedure, demanded a fine of Tk 30,000 on each ‘indecent’ word uttered inside the Parliament by any of its members.
“We have come to parliament not to hear such rude and tasteless words. Hard-earned Taka 30,000 of common people is spent for a minute’s proceeding in Parliament,” he added.
Palak urged the Speaker to take necessary steps for stopping such ill practices in the House to uphold the sanctity of the highest seat of parliamentary democracy.
(Source: bdnews24.com)
