Opposition MPs have stormed out of Parliament protesting a government ‘ban’ on rallies within two hours of returning to the House after a boycott of 83 days.
Having abstained for 83 consecutive workdays, they would have lost membership if they remained absent for 90 days.
They staged the walkout suddenly when senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed was addressing the lawmakers at around 8pm on Monday.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had led them to join the 18th session of the ninth Parliament.
The sitting of the budget session started at 5:30pm with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
The opposition lawmakers were welcomed amid desk-thumping by Leader of Parliament Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Deputy Leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad and other ruling coalition MPs.
The Speaker also greeted the Leader of the Opposition Khaleda.
Khaleda went out after staying there for 51 minutes during the break for prayers and started for her Gulshan residence immediately.
The session resumed later with the question-answer session when Moudud led the boycott.
Senior Awami League lawmaker Tofail Ahmed wasted no time to castigate the opposition for the gesture.
”Today it has been proved that they had come to Parliament only to ensure their salaries and retain their seats,” he said.
”They would have lost their parliamentary membership if they had remained absent for another eight days.
“Mr Moudud Ahmed delivered his speech without any interruption. Why did they walk out?” he asked.
Social watchdog Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) recently asked for a law to stop the practice of frequent boycott by the opposition.
Earlier after a prolonged absence for 77 consecutive working days, the BNP and its allies joined proceedings of the 12th session on Mar 18 last year.
But, the BNP walked out two days later after Leader of the Opposition made a statement on President’s speech.
Opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farrouque had blamed the walkout on the Speaker’s ‘partial conduct’.
The BNP had also joined the proceedings on Mar 24, 2011 after a long period of absence but walked out after a while.
Source: Bd news24