Dhaka, Sept 8 – The business of the Jatiya Sangsad was adjourned on Sunday showing respects to late sitting MP and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament HM Ershad who died on July 14 last.Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury adjourned the business for the day just after adopting the condolence motion unanimously over the death HM Ershad, of also Jatiya Party Chairman, who was elected MP from Rangpur-3 constituency.
As per the tradition, the day’s business is adjourned immediately after the adoption of a condolence motion in case of the death of any sitting MP.
Before passing the condolence motion, a number of MPs, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, took part in the discussion on the proposal and shed light on the work of HM Ershad.
Joining the discussion, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader said HM Ershad even worked for flourishing democracy over 27 years when he was out of power.
He said Ershad was a popular leader as he was elected with spontaneous mandate of people whenever he contested elections even after 1991.
Awami League MP Mohammad Nasim said HM Ershad used to respect Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and he used to deliver speeches here showing homage to him when he was the Opposition Leader.
“But it was very unfortunate that when he was in power he gave shelter to and patronised self-confessed killers of Bangabandhu following the path of predecessor Ziaur Rahman,” said the AL leader.
“Even he made a hated killer like Col Faruk as a contender for the presidential election. Now I want to forget it, but I want to say those words for keeping these in the record of the Jatiya Sangsad,” said Nasim.
He, however, expressed deep shock and sought salvation of his departed soul.
BNP MP Md Harunur Rashid said Ershad suddenly came to power overthrowing an elected government in 1982, which led to bloodshed. “Two parliamentary elections were held during his regime but none of these lasted long,” he said.
“He passed very tough time at the fag end of his life. He didn’t participate in the election held unilaterally in 2014. He said he was made elected despite he didn’t join it. It’ll remain as part of the history,” Harun said.
The BNP MP, however, prayed for salvation of his departed soul.
Opposing Harun, opposition chief whip Md Moshiur Rahman Ranga said Ershad came to power without any bloodshed in 1982.
“Had he mentioned that two houses were given (to Khaleda Zia) at a token price of Tk 1 in Dhaka during the tenure of HM Erhad, we would have been happy,” said Ranga, also the Jatiya Party secretary general.
“Ershad was not forcefully elected in 2014. I was witness to the incident. As per the rules, anyone needs to withdraw candidature being present at the office. Since he couldn’t be present, his candidacy was not withdrawn. So, I think what he said is not authentic,” said Ranga.
Awami League MPs Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Shajahan Khan, Jatiya Party MPs Raushon Ershad, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Fakhrul Imam, Md Mujibul Haque, Shameem Haider Patwary, Pir Fazlur Rahman, Salma Islam, Ahsan Adelur Rahman and Nazma Akter, and Tarikat Federation MP Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary also joined the discussion.
They shed light on the work and life of HM Ershad.
The Speaker moved the condolence motion over the death of the sitting MP HM Ershad, three former MPs and one former MLA as well as some noted personalities.
Three former MPs are Sirajul Islam, who was also member of Ganoparishad (born at Kamalnagar in Laxmipur), National Awami Party President Prof Muzaffar Ahmed (Debidwar in Cumilla) and Anwara Begum (Kaliganj in Gazipur), and former MLA Prof Khaleda Habib (Bhuapur in Tangail).
The noted personalities include former Indian ministers Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, Awami League Sylhet unit president ANM Shafiqul Haque and Sufi saint Sheikh Abdul Hanif, novelist Rizia Rahman, organiser of the Liberation War Nurul Islam, who was also a close aide of the Father of the Nation, Ekushey Padak-winning activist Jharna Dhara Chowdhury, Language Movement hero Khalequl Al Azad and first captain of the national cricket team Anwarul Kabir Shamim.
Besides, parliament expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in dengue at different places of the country, in Ohio and Texas gun attacks in the USA, and road accidents in home and abroad.
The House conveyed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved families.
A one-minute silence was observed and a munajat was offered over the death of Ershad and others.
Awami League MP Md Hafiz Ruhul Amin Madani conducted the munajat seeking salvation of the departed souls. – UNB
