The Jatiya Party (JP) on Sunday staged a walkout from Parliament session protesting the increase of power price. The JP lawmakers led by Rawshan Ershad staged the first ever walkout at about 5:30pm in the presence of Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina.
The members of treasury bench were found laughing. The opposition lawmakers staged the walkout just 15 minutes after the sitting began at 5:15pm and returned to the House after nine minutes.
Earlier, opposition chief whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury took the floor on point of order and criticised the government for its decision to increase the price of power and oil.He said that the government has increased the price of power though the price of fuel was not enhanced in the international markets.
“It is illogical to increase the price of power and oil as the price of fuel is not enhanced in the international markets,” he added.
The opposition chief whip criticised the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) for its statement that there is no opposition party in real sense in the present Parliament.
He claimed that the JP was also in the opposition bench with the Awami League and the BNP in the past.
“Now, the Jatiya Party is a lone opposition party in Parliament. We want to criticize the government in a constructive manner and raise protest of its illegal works. We want to create a history as a oppostion,” he added.
He termed the TIB statement injustice to them and said they made such statement being provoked by foreign countries.
It may be mentioned that TIB executive at a function on Tuesday said that there is no opposition party in Parliament.
Meanwhile, speaking on the thanks-giving motion on the address of the President, ruling party MP Israfil Alam said the JP staged the walkout just for opposition.
He mentioned that the price of power was increased by 135 per cent during the 9-year regime of JP leader HM Ershad and it was increased for six times during the BNP-Jamaat-led government.
Israfil justified that there was no alternative to increase the price of power to adjust the additional cost of power generation.
He also argued that the people are not aggrieved at the increase of power price. – Staff Reporter
