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’Acting President sitting on a heap of explosives'
The following is the remaining part of Monday* JS proceeding
Asaduzzaman
Asaduzzaman said now the question was whether the Par liament was sovereign or not. He said the members of the Treasury Bench claimed that the present Parliament could enact laws and have it was sovereign. He said some people also used to describe the Parhament under the basic democracy system as sovereign. He pointed out some of those basic democrats were now sitting in the Trea suty Bench.
He spoused a question how this Parliament could be sovereign when It did not know that foreign troops were on the soil of Bangladesh. He said the presence of foreign troops on the soil of Bangladesh was an affront on lie sovereignty of the country.
He said "wc don't know how many soldiers and on the basis of what agreement they have come here" but still, he said they (the Treasury Bench) would Insist that this Parliament was sovereign. He said "we even don't know under the supervision of which government we are running this Parliament".
Asaduzzaman disagreed with the suggestion of the Treasury Bench that they had got the mandate on the question of the form of government after winning the majority seat in the Parliament. He firmly said the Awaml League which had polled 38 per cent of the votes cast received the mandate on the Parliament form of government.
Asaduzzaman said Die Acting President had mentioned that there were impediments on the way to transfer of power. He said "I think, the Acting President had expressed his feelings as he does not consider this Parliament as a sovereign one".
He said the government did not repeal the Special Powers Act although they were com milled to do so. Rather he said the government passed the amendments to the Special Powers Act In this House. He said the government also passed amendments to the Penal Code Bill which Contained some provisions to gag the freedom of the press.
He said that some provisions of the Penal Code were so dangerous that It could be used as a tool against the newspapers for criticising the ministers of the government and even the bureaucrats.
He called for making the Parliament meaningful In fulfillment of the commitment made prior to the unseating of the autocratic government.
He said "we want to make this Parliament sovrclgn even with the repeal of the fourth and the subsequent amendments”.
Hafez Asma Khatun
Invited to speak. Hafez Asma Khatun (Jamaat-Gopal -ganj-Madaripur and Shariat -pur) thanked the Acting President for his realistic inaugural speech.
She also prayed for the peace of the departed souls of those who had made supreme sacrifices in ousting autocracy and paving the way for establishing a sovereign Jatlya Sangsad.
She said people would also remember the Acting President for holding a free and fair elecUon.
The Jamaat member said the government was formed with the elected representatives of the people and if they failed to perform their responsibilities properly, they would have to heavily pay for it.
Referring to the problems faced by the women In the country. Asma Khatun said
they constitute 50 per cent of the population and without their participaUon in development work all national efforts were bound to fall. She said continuous negligence towards women would dishearten them.
She said the women were being humilated everywhere in the counfry and this should be stopped forthwith. She said steps should also be taken for ensuring their security as well as to providing them with livelihood.
Asma Khatun called for separate educational Institutions for women.
She also pleaded for cstab-lishmcnt of the parliamentary system of democracy and making the Sangsad sovereign.
Mansur Ali
Taking the floor. Meah Mohammad Mansur All (BNP Chuadanga) thanked the Acting President for emphasising the need for accelerating the efforts for the country's Industrialisation.
Criticising the nationalisation of industries including those belonged to Bangladesh nationals immediately after the independence of the country. Mansur Ali said It had pushed the economy of the country to the brink of destruction. He said when the Industries were returned to their Bangladeshi owners, they were found In deplorable conditions over and above he said, labour unrests had hampered production in every mill and factory.
Pointing to the President’s speech on Industrial loans to the tune of Taka 10.000 crore. Mansur All said the industries had lost the capacity even to pay Taka ten crore.
The Treasury Bench member said the Ministry of Commerce had become a den. of corruption. Because of this, he said, our import bill was triple that of our export earnings.
Referring to jute. Mansur All said earnings from this vital sector were reducing day by day due to government control.
He said we had lost the international market because our Jute trade was not competitive as it was controlled by the government. He called for taking stops on an emergency basis to save this sector.
The BNP member alleged during the past regional millions of Taka was given as loans in the name of setting up industries. He said In some cases it was found that funds were allocated for before the industries were set up.
Mansur All called for the establishment of a university and medical college in Khulna to reduce pressure on the institutes in Dhaka.
Criticising the autocratic regime of Ershad. the BNP member said Ershad had cancelled allocations for hospitals, colleges and other development projects of Kushtia because he himself faced anti-government demonstrations there.
Advocate Fazle Rabbi
Advocate Fazle Rabbi (JP-Gaibandha) said the last Sangsad elections were held under a neutral government headed by the Acting President. Justice Shahab-uddin Ahmed. But he said tlic fairness of the election was questioned by one of the three major parties which had proposed his nainc as Acting President
The JP member said he had participated the Liberation War at the call of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and fought along with former President Ziaur Rahman in the same sector. He said he might differ in politics with Zia but lie supported the action taken by him during the Liberation
War. He regretted that Zia also had to bear the allegation of being an autocrat
Drawing the attention of the Speaker. Rabbi said he wanted to know from the chair why former President Ershad’s seat in the House was vacant when he had been elected by the people from five constituencies.
The House resumed Its sitting after the break for Asar prayer with the Deputy Speaker in the chair.
ObaidulHuq
Taking the door. Maulana Obaldul Huq (Islaml Oikya Jote-Sylhet) drew the atten tion of the chair to the worsening flood situation In Sylhet.
Quoting the dally "Ittcfaq he said ten lakh people were marooned In Sylhet and R was with a heavy heart that he was drawing the urgent attention of the House to the plight of the affected people of the dis trict.
Turning to the discussion on the thaks giving motion. Maulana Obaidul Huq thanked the Acting President for hold Ing a fair and free election for the first time in the country.
He. however, said there were certain lapses in the vot ers' lists resulting the depriva Uon of many voters from their rights of franchise. This lapse must be remedied in future so that the polls were more meaningful, lie said.
About the controversy on the form of government, the Islam! Oikya Joie member said a balance could be struck be tween the presidential and parliamentary forms for a desirable system.
Abu Taber
Speaking next. Abu Tahet (BNI’-Tangail ) thanked the Acting President for conduct Ing the elections which were admired at home and abroad for their fairness.
He said the Acting President had touched upon several problems facing the na tion and it was necessary Io lake effective measures Io tackle those problems.
The Treasuty Bench member said, a peoples' government had now been Installed In Ilie country and I) was the bounden duty of all to extend all out cooperation Io this administration in dealing with the problems of Ilie country.
Tahcr particularly mentioned the food shortage tn the country and said 11 was a key area which dc-Mm-d attention with highest priority. He said supply of improved inputs to the farmers could help improve production. Tahcr mentioned local ■ problems and sought their solution.
Humayun Khan
The chair then gave the floor to Humayun Khan Panni. saying that the member had al ready spoken but he could not mention the problems of his area due to time constraints.
Taking the floor. Panni said communication was the biggest handicap in his constituency. where no direct communications existed between two upazilas — Sakhipur atxl Bashail.
He also referred to the electrification network In the area and said it had to be further extended so that its benefits reached to more and more people in the villages.
Mozahar Hossain
Speaking next. Mozahar Hossain (CPB-Panchagarh) stressed the need for changing the present presidential system to the parliamentary one and drew the attention of all to the Joint declaration of the three alliances In this regard during the anti-Ershad movement.
The Opposition member opined that the presidential system tended to encourage dictatorial traits and it was high time that the Constitution was amended for the necessary changes.
Hossain said 265 of the 300 members elected in the last elections were voted on the Issue of restoring parliamentary system. As such, he felt, there should be no delay in introduc-' Ing parliamentary form.
The CPB member referred to the problems in his district and made a fervent appeal for construction of a bridge over river Korotoya.
MA Karim
Participating next. MA Karim Advocate (BNP-Nctrokona) paid tributes to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. describing him as an honest and great patriot who declared the country's independence.
The BNP member recalled the heroic role of the three political alliances in the ami-autocracy movement. He particularly appreciated the k adcrshlp of BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia for establishing democracy ending nine years of autocratic rule tn the country. He also praised the contributions of the students In the democratic movement
Referring to the Acting President's speech to the Jal Iyo Sangsad. Karim said he coukl have been more glad If flip Acting President would have mention the names of the national leaders including Sher c ■ liangia A K Fazhil Huq. Hussain Shahid Suhrawardi. Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashapi. Shahccd President Ziaur Rahman and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his speech.
The BNP member said 85 per cent of the population in the country was dependent on agriculture. Il was President Zlaur Rahman who had taken pragmatic measures for the improvement of the lol of the peasants and development of the agriculture sector.
But. he regretted that all those programmes taken by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman were dropped during the last nine years autocratic rule of Ershad.
Referring to the canal digging programme Initiated by President Zia. the BNP member said the programme had paid.dividend and the country almost achieved self-sufficiency in food production.
Dwelling on local issues. Karim demanded immediate steps for the development of road communications in Netrokona district and also pleaded for construction of the Shushan-Durgapur-Netrokona . Road.
The Deputy Speaker adjourned the House at 6.28 pm for Magreb prayer.
Tabibar Rahman
As the House reassembled after the Magreb prayer, the Deputy Speaker gave the Boor to Tabibar Rahman Sardar (AL Jessore).
Initiating his speech. Sardar thanked the Acting President for his speech to the Sangsad on April 5.
The Awaml League member particularly appreciated the Acting President for holding the elections In a free and fair atmosphere.
Dwelling on the situations obtaining in the country, the Awaml League member suggested setting up of more In dustrlai units for creating Job opportunities to the millions of unemployed youths, besides Increasing the country's Industrial output.
He pleaded for immediate steps for the eradication of Illiteracy from the society.
About the agriculture sector. he demanded exemption of interest on agriculture loans upto Taka 10.000 and provision of subsidies on fertilizers, seeds and other inputs.
The Awaml League member also demanded that the Vested Property Acl should be repealed. because the landed properties of many Muslims had been Included 1n the list of the vested property.
Referring to the Joint declaration of the three alliances for establishing a sovereign Parliament, he said if the parliamentary form of government were Introduced, the Leader of Ilie House would be able to exercise more power than what she was enjoying now.
Khurshid Jahan
Participating next. Mrs. Khurshid Jahan Huq (BNP- -Pa nc hagarh -Thaku rgaon -Dlnajpur) thanked the Acting President for holding the general elections In a free and fair atmosphere. This had fulfilled the hopes of the people coveting for democracy the country, she added.
Mrs. Huq said since the present Sangsad was the outcome of a mass-movement, people's expectation from it was also very high.
Pleading for the unity of the people in settling the national Issues the BNP member said: 'We must be united for fulfilling the hopes arid aspirations of the people. We may have difference of opinions on many issues but there must not be any difference of opinion ofi the question of the protection of Independence and sovereignty of the country and the welfare of the masses."
Mr. Khurshid Jahan urged Ilic Opp6sitlon not to oppose the government for the sake of Opposition and said if we continue to oppose each other for the sake of Opposition, wc shall have to pay for II in fu turc.”
Dwelling on the problems being faced by the country she pleaded for taking up different programmes including the mass literacy drive In the country.
She pointed out that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had taken up a mass literacy programme and at least 40 lakh people were imparted education under that programme.
But the mass-literacy programme of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was neglected during the nine years of autocratic rule, instead, the autocratic government introduced a programme for the "Pathakali". She demanded a white paper on the Ppthakali fund. •
The BNP member pleaded for taking steps for the development of the agriculture sector and recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman Initiated the canal digging programme bringing cultivable land under irrigation command during the lean period.
The canal digging programme had started yielding fruits and as a result the country which was facing food deficit even started exporting rice She suggested the revival of the canal digging programme.
Dwelling on local Issues, Mrs. Kliurshed Jahan said due to the adverse affect of the Farakka barrage built by India, the entire northern region of the country including Dlnajpur district was turning into a desert.
To avert dcccrtiflcalkm. she recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had taken steps for digging deep tube-wells in Dlnajpur district. She pointed out that many of those deep tube-wells went out of order and suggested measures for their recommissioning.
In the condition existing in the sugar industry, the BNP member said sugarcane farmers were not getting fair prices for their produces.
She pointed out that due to smuggling of sugar, the country's sugar industry as well as the sugarcane growers were facing a threat of ruination.
The BNP member strongly pleaded for taking steps for the development of the northern region including Dlnajpur.
M A Awal
Participating next. MA Awal (AL-Kushtia) thanked the Textiles Minister for reopening the Mohtni Textiles Mill at Kushtia.
He demanded that the Kushtia-Rajbarl road should be completed without further delay
The Awaml League member demanded steps for realising the Industrial bans from different banks, amounting to Taka oflO.OOO crore.
Referring the outline of the Joint declaration of the three alliances. Awal suggested mak Ing the Sangsad sovereign by fulfilling tlie commitments to the people, so that none could grab power through the back door and no more Presidents of the country were killed
Referring to the Acting President's speech that he (Acting President) was sltUng in a heap of explosives, the Awaml league member demanded a bill before the next budget session for amending the Constitution to switch over Io the parliamentary form of government.
A parliamentary form of governrr.—it could ensure the completion of full-term of the Sangsad. he said. He concluded his speech with ths slo^ns. "Joy Bangin'.
Azizur Rahman
Azizur Rahman (BNP Ra Jshahi) thanked the Atting President for holding the gen eral elections In a free and fair atmosphere.
Dwelling on local issues, the BNP member said Shahccd President Zlaur Rahman had established the Dalnlk Barta', the only newspaper from Ra Jshahi in 1976. But. it was a matter of great regret that a section of elements during the autocratic rule of President Ershad had closed clown the paper. He demanded steps to resume the publk-alion of the paper.
The BNP member suggested the introduction of test relief programme to save the rural masses. He also de manded construction of an embankment afong Rajshahl town for the protection of different establishments including the Rajshahl Cadet College from river erosion.
Mobin Chowdhury
Participating next. Abu lails Mohammad Mobtn Chowdhury (JP HabiganJ) dwell on the focal issues and said standing IRR1 crops on 14.000 acres in HabiganJ were damaged by the floods of the river KIkhiI.
Chowdhury said though everyone desc ribed ex President Ershad as an uuloc ral. they • were enjoying the fruils of many steps initialed by presi deni Ershad.
He said the peopk- of the country woukl soon judge as to who was an autocrat who was or not.
lie said there was no such word in the Constitution as Acting President. He said tin der tlx- present system of gm ernment. the President is all powerful, but now the Prime Minister Is exercising absolute power.
Aminul Huq
At this stage. Aminul Huq (BNP Rajshahl) look the fkxr on a point of order and referred to the Article 55(1) of the Constitution and said the word Acting president was there.
Resuming his speech, the JP member demanded mea surcs for giving fresh agriculture loans to the affected farmers of HabiganJ
Mansur Ahmed
Mansur Ahmed (AL-Satkhlra) said the enthusiasm marked in the February 27 polls was unprecedented in the history of the country He said there was a record turnout In the polls because people expected I fuel autocracy could be eliminated from the soil once for all after this historic
election.
He said the spilling of blood in the movement against au tocrucy would have been meaningful If a bill for switching over to parliamentary form of government would have been tabled In the house by the gov ernment. He said the members of the Treasury Bench blamed us for the 1974 famine tn the country "We never said that there was no famine In the country In 1974." But he said It . was known to all why the famine took place
He said a severe flood engulfed 14 northern districts of the country Prior to the famine he said some American ships carrying foodgrains for Bangladesh went back when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman rejected their proposal for a military base at the St Martin's island.
Mansur Ahmed said Bangs ba nd hu also took up a master plan for constructing 2.498 cyclone shelters in the coastal districts of the country but he coukl not complete the task as he was killed by the anti-liberation forces In August 1975 President Zlaur Rahman kept the plan in abeyance Instead of Implementing It. he stated.
Habibur Rahman
Moulana Habibur Rahman (Jamaat-Chuadan—) thanked ihe President for an excellent speech.
He said no government did anything worthwhile for the development of agriculture tn the country. He said "there will be problems but we must work together for their solution'.
He called for the establish ment of rule of Allah executed by honest people for the overall devefopment of the country and maintaining peace in the society.
Habibur Rahman also drew the attention of the concerned authorities to the problems being faced by the people of his home district.
Abdus Salam
Taking part tn the discussion. Abdus Salam Plntu (BNP Tangall) said the Acting Presi dent deserved commendation for the recent parliamentary elections which he conducted in a most free and orderly manner.
The Treasury Bench member. turning to the controversy over the system of government. said those clamouring for a change to the parliamentary form today were them selves responsible for doing away with the parliamentary system and introduction of one-party presidential system in 1975. These people even did not allow any discussion on such an Issue and the entire procedure took only five mln ulcs. he said
Azharul Islam
Taking the floor. Azharul Islam (AI. Nllphamari) said It was unfortunate that the Sangsad could not amend the Constitution till today to switch over Io the parliamentary system
The people of the country in the last elections gave verdict tn favour of the parilamen tary svstem. he said adding only the Jatiya Party was in favour of rontlnuation of the presidential system
Tlie Opposition member opined that 265 of Ihe 300 members elected In last polls were chosen by the people to restore the parliamentary form of government
Islam referred Io a recent Incident In his constituency and said communal tensions were whipped up by Intareated quarters there.
He alleged that the police did not lake any action during the incident and demanded punishment for Ihe dereliction of their duties.
The Deputy Speaker then adjourned the house till 3pm today (Tuesday)