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Give the JS its Sanctity Back

by Nilratan Halder
***What is warranted of the people's representatives is full compliance to the norms, rules and best of traditions of parliament. It has to be a continuous process through which the less initiated of them will come to terms with the system and take it from strength to strength.***
ON Sunday last, the Jatiya Sangsad perhaps witnessed the worst parliamentarian behaviour one is capable of demonstrating in that august house. Calling names and throwing abuses in any kind of interaction in a civil society are not only discourteous but also an offence. And how are we expected to react to one of the members of parliament calling the deputy speaker "son of a swine"? Yes, this most uncivilised and offensive abuse was hurled at the chair several times when deputy speaker Abdul Hamid adjourned the session for the day. The parliamentary deliberations go on the air. courtesy of the radio, and the entire nation came to know of the matter instantly.
We do not know how an MP can forget that he or she represents not only a constituency but also has to play the role of a flag-bearer of national identity, culture and the quality of the population. One common expectation is that they would set their eyes on a standard of national behaviour higher and more sophisticated than the average people's. At least one becomes a little self-conscious as one knows that the performance in the house is under
constant scrutiny or public gaze through radio or TV coverage. Far from that they some of the MPs give the impression that could not care less. If this is how the elected representatives tend to return compliments for reposing in them people's confidence, I am sure, we have reasons for serious introspection.
Holding the chair in disrespect — and that too under the full glare of the media — Instantly makes us familiar with the class of representative we are now having to protect and promote our Interests.
Any conscious citizen is bound to feel outraged at this contempt of the chair. We are not talking about one Abdul Hamid but a chair, position that cannot be brought down. If we do so. we do it at a price of our own dignity and standing. Because the house, where the MPs assemble together to discuss. cannot be treated lightly. It enjoys a kind of inviolable sancUty only because the na-
tion has agreed to give it such a recognition. Parliament's sanctity cannot be so compromised. When the MPs themselves bring disrepute to the house by their intemperate or indiscrete acts or behaviours, it has its chain reactions on society. Social norms and respectability go through a confusing and convulsive state of metamorphosis. In this connection we can remember what an incumbent minister once said about parliament. He observed that the Jatiya Sangsad is an enclosure for pigs (shuorer khoar in BanglaL We do not know whether the inventor of this derogatory epithet now feels any unease sitting in the house.
Time and again the elected representatives have made a mockery of the Sangsad. Khaleda Zia In her new role of the leader of the opposition was heard to say. b e a d o b (impudent). There are other such instances where MPs fall
to distinguish between the house and the street. But why? Don't the people, specially after so much sacrifice, deserve better? The MPs should have better. effective and more sophisticated weapons at their disposal to corner or vent anger against their opponents. Why not take the debate to a new height with use of wit, humour, sarcasm, anecdotes etc? A parliamentarian's forte should be his or her grasp of the subject, forceful arguments to make the points, which must of necessity be sufficiently backed up by extensive reading, wisdom of age and a continuous effort to serve the country and the people better. Instead, we are becoming witness to the display of most uncouth manner and most outrageous invectives in the house.
When parliament grants the people's representatives almost unlimited freedom or immunity. they themselves ought to be accountable for every of their speeches, acts, behaviours and movements. The more power
one enjoys by law. the greater the exercise of responsibility on one's part. The honourable members of parliament have to live up to the elevating position they hold. Because with the loftiness of their position is linked the nation's hopes and aspirations as well as the image and prestige. So we must urge restraint in the house. A dignified and yet lively atmosphere in the house is what we miss. Let there be Jokes, humourous remarks and even leg-pulling but please not the exchange of offensive words that erode the house's dignify.
Leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia has made a most pragmatic and timely appeal In that she wants everyone refraining from character assassination of the national leaders like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mu-jib and Ziaur Rahman. She pleads for concentrating on the burning issues of the day. We like the idea. Why should the MPs give so much of their en-
ergy to such a futile exercise? The names of those leaders are unnecessarily dragged into debates totally unrelated to them.
There cannot be a hard and fast rule that their names won't come up as a reference at times but deliberate attempt to belittle them is what has to be stopped once for all. There are scholars, historians and researchers who are the right people to put leaders of yester years in right historical perspectives. One does not need to invent or hide facts about them.
So what is warranted of the people's representatives is full compliance to the norms, rules and best of traditions of parliament. It has to be a continuous process through which the less initiated of them will come to terms with the system and take it from strength to strength. If we really respect democracy, this is the least we can do. Respecting one's own right or dignity without infringing on others is the name of the game. The lines are drawn. Let the MPs give a big hand to restoring of the house's dignity and sanctify. The whole nation is ready to learn from the standard practice of courtesy and civility set at the JS.