Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has cautioned the MPs after ruling party lawmakers criticised BNP’s Rahana Akter Ranu’s statement.
Sunday’s sitting was earlier stirred over a statement by another BNP MP Syeda Ashifa Ashrafi Papia.
As tensions ran high in the House, Speaker Chaudhury asked the MPs to speak as per the Rules of Procedure, specially, sub-section 6 of section 270.
Section 270 elaborates rules the lawmakers have to follow while speaking in the House. Sub-section 6 prohibits using “offensive, abusive, vulgar expressions.”
Awami League Whip ASM Feroz termed MP Ranu’s statement ‘indecent’ and called for expunging it from the proceedings.
Speaker Chaudhury said the remarks would be examined and excluded as per Section 307. She gave similar assurances on speeches of Papia.
BNP MPs, joining Parliament after 83 business days, walked into the House led by MK Anwar on Sunday.
Speaking on the supplementary budget, Ranu claimed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family members were involved in corruption in the Pama bridge project.
A MP from the seats reserved for women in Parliament, she claimed the World Bank pulled out of the project as information on 12 percent bribe went out. She said names of those involved with 10 percent of the ‘bribe’ had been published but those involved with the rest two percent had not been named.
“A recent report run by a Canadian TV channel said the Prime Minister’s family members are involved with the two percent,” she said without specifying.
Ranu warned the opposition would not let the government play games over the caretaker government issue.
She said ruling party’s assertions to bring back BNP’s Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman with Interpol’s assistance was merely a ‘political game’.
Last month, Home Minister MK Alamgir had said the government would take steps as per court directives to haul back Tarique for violating bail bond conditions signed during the last caretaker government.
Ranu suggested the Awami League leaders start working on saving their skin instead of going after Tarique. She said the government will have to pay for what it did to the opposition BNP-Jamaat alliance, and the Hifazat-e Islam.
The BNP deputy said Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu was the ‘greatest enemy’ of the media and alleged the government was controlling mediapersons “with guns and sticks.”
She alleged the Prime Minister was an ‘instigator of atheism’ and took a swipe at the Home Minister.
Earlier in the session, Papiya, speaking on a Point of Order, ‘denounced’ Hasina’s statement on Tarique on Thursday.
She said the BNP Senior Vice Chairman was abroad for treatment. “He does not do politics by signing bonds.”
Papiya alleged the ruling MPs were delivering false, fabricated and confusing statements.
At one stage, Papiya, known for launching scathing attacks on the ruling party, termed Foreign Minister Dipu Moni a ‘hybrid’ leader.
Several ruling party lawmakers, including Deputy Leader of Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, tried to attract the Speaker’s attention as the BNP MP was speaking.
However, the Speaker did not turn off the mike in a mark of flexible attitude towards the opposition.
Ruling party’s Fazle Rabbi Miah MP, speaking after Papiya, demanded that her statement be expunged.
Abdul Mannan MP also echoed Miah and said opposition lawmaker Papiya had made ‘indecent’ remarks about the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.
“I strongly condemn her statements,” he said.
