Parliament, deviating from the Rules of Procedure, last night entered a heated debate' after the Awami League (AL) assumption that the ruling BNP would rig the Mirpur byelection and the latter's strongly protesting ft.

At a phase in the debate Shaikh Razzak All. presiding over the session, asked the Leader of the Opposition tn Parliament Sheikh Hasina not to violate the rule while giving her speech tn the House.

The Speaker told the Opposition leader that she should not force the Chair to switch olT her mike by means of going beyond the Rules of Procedure.

In reply to the Speaker. Hasina argued that there was

no convention in the world that the chair may put off the mike of the Opposition leader while he or she was addressing the House.

The Speaker asserted that nobody Including the leader of the opposition could violate the Rules of Procedure.

Hasina. however, asserted that she had the right especially when it was necessary to deliberate on issues of national interest.

In a bld to argue on her stance, Hasina said that the rules were made, and if necessary, amended, by the MPs

Barrister Raftqul Islam Miah, Minister for Public Works, however told the House later that the Leader of the Opposition could not violate the rules until they were amended tn the House tn her favour

The 45-minute unscheduled debate . however, began with AL MP Tofael Ahmeds claiming that the ruling BNP. with a view to influencing the result of the by-election scheduled for tomorrow, recently disbursed a grant of Taka 7.500 to each of the ISO mosques tn the Mirpur constituency from the public exchequer.

In support of his claim the AL MP told the Chair that he could produce a taka 7,500 bank cheque In the House, Is sued by the government yes terday In favour of the Shcwrapara Jame Mosque

The moment Tofael fin-

ished. Sheikh Hasina took the floor to accuse the ministers of figging the just held pouruhabha polls.

She said where "th err was a Minister during the polls, there was terrorism and rigging of votes

The opposition leader, however, particularly accused the Agriculture Minister and Acting Deputy leader of the House Majid-ul-Hoquc. Food Minister Shamsul Islam, I ORD Minister Salam Talukdcr and Social Welfare Minister Tartqul Islam of rigging paurashabha elections in their respective constituencies.

On the Mirpur by-election to be held tomorrow, Hasina told the House that governmcnt was distributing, public money through the Jatiya Party leader SA Khaleque.

The BNP was not only working unitedly with the Jatiya Party against the Awaml League In the by-election but also there were rumours that Prime Minister Khaleda Zia would take part in the rigging of the by-election, Hasfna added.

Explaining the rumours the Opposition leader said that the Prime Minister would enter the booths with the Chhatra Dal activists and push the voters out of the booth in the name of security measures. With the booths empty, the Chhatra Dal activists would give false votes, the Opposition leader added

Hasina also accused the Home Minister Abdul Matin Chowdhury of being party to the government design to rig the election.

The Home Minister, standing on a point of personal' clarification, said that Haslna's statement on Mlrpur election was 'motivated'

He also said that in the face of probable defeat In the Mlrpur constituency, the Opposition leader was virtually trying to make a false charge against the government In ad vance.

Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah of the Treasury bench observed that Hasina's statement on the Mlrpur by-electlon was a clear aspersion on the Chief

Election Commissioner who had already earned a reputation at home and abroad for his ability to conduct neutral elections across the country.

The Treasury bencher requested expunction of Hasina's statement

The BNP MP also said that the leader of the opposition should go to the Election Commission and request it to lake preemptive measures if she feared that the poll would be rigged.

Refuting the opposition allegations the Acting Deputy leader of the House. MaJ-gen (retd) Majidul Huq, fold the House that the allegations brought only two days before the polling day were designed to misguide the nation to cover up apprehended defeat of the opposition. He said every one at home and abroad credited the BNP government for holding the last three by-elections freely and fairly In which the Awaml League candidates won.

Gen -Majidul Huq said the hard earned democracy should not be jeopardised by raising concocted allegations to serve petty party interest. Such allegations based on hear say would only vitiate political atmosphere. he added.

The Food Minister. Shamsul Islam and deputy minister for LGRD, Abdul Hal. also refuted rhe opposition allegations against the government In the pourashava elections and said It was the Awaml league work ers who created a reign of ter ror in Munshignnj.