Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury yesterday challenged the repeated Opposition claim that they' were not allowed by the Chair to speak in parliament on matters of public importance.
Citing facts and figures, the Speaker told parliament that he had always been trying to maintain neutrality in running the House as per the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of Jatiya Sangsad.
He said he will continue his efforts to maintain neutrality. "The door is open for all irrespective of party affiliation. Any one is welcome to have discussion aimed at resolving problems relating to parliament. On top of all, as Speaker of the House. I am ready to create scope for discussion between the two sides if they are willing." he said in a written statement read out in the House on the first day of the budget session yesterday.
He also told the House that it was the constitutional right and obligation of all members of parliament to attend the proceedings of the House. He regretted that the Opposition members have been abstaining from attending the proceedings of die last few sessions, although they were enjdylng remuneration and other benefits. “They have also participated in different delegations including the first inter-parliamentary conference of the new millennium held in Amman, Jordan." the Speaker said. They have also been attending meetings of the parliamentary standing committees. he added.
Referring to the Opposition "propaganda" that they were not allowed to speak in the House, the Speaker said that it was not true.
He said, in 13 sessions held between 1996 and 1999. Opposition members took part in general discussions on wide ranging subjects including national budgets. Presidential address, stock market scam. Ganges water sharing treaty, transit and regional co-operation, law and order. Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement. Shahid Minar incident. Bangabandhu Bridge, natural calamities including flood, power, gas and mineral resources and foreign policy. The Opposition members were given a total 366 hours and 37 minutes to discuss the issues, he said.
During budget discussion in the first session of the present parliament, the Opposition got 23 hours 43 minutes against the Treasury Bench’s 21 hours 52 minutes, he said.
On the Presidential speech in the third session. Opposition lawmakers spoke for 12 hours 22 minutes against 10 hours 06 minutes of the Treasury Bench. During discussion on the share market, the Opposition got one hour 0'2 minutes, while the Treasury Bench was given one hour The Opposition six>ke for one hour 10 minutes on sharing of Ganges water against one hour 12 minutes of the Treasury Bench.
During the fourth session that witnessed discussion on transit and regional co-operation. both Treasury and the Opposition benches got one hour eight minutes each.
In the fifth session, the Opposition was allowed 22 hours 46 minutes against 24 hours 53 minutes for the Treasury’ bench for discussion on the national budget, the Speaker said citing records.
Ln the eighth, session, the Opposition’ 3p<5k? Yo? "Seven hours 25 minutes, while the Treasury Bench got 13 hours 37 minutes on the thanks-giving motion on the Presidential address.
On the CHT Peace Agreement. the Opposition got 39 minutes against one hour 29 minutes of the Treasury’ Bench. During discussion on an incident at the Shahid Minar. the Opposition members got one hour 14 minutes, while the Treasury’ Bench got one hour 12 minutes.
In the ninth session, the Opposition was given nine hours 46 minutes against 1 1 hours 16 minutes of the Treasury’ Bench for discussion on the national budget. On the Bangabandhu Bridge, the Opposition got 26 minutes against 39 minutes of the Treasury Bench.
During the 10th session, the Opposition was given two hours 14 minutes against one hour 48 minutes of the Treasury Bench for discussion on the flood situation.
In the twelfth session, the Opposition spoke for four hours 53 minutes against the Treasury Bench's five hours 58 minutes for discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the Presidential address.
During 13th session. Opposition got one hour against 58 minutes of the Treasury Bench for discussion on natural calamities, one hour three minutes against 40 minutes on power and gas. 20 hours 44 minutes against 19 hours 37 minutes on national budget and one hour 18 minutes against one hour 32 minutes of the Treasury Bench for discussion on foreign policy.
The Speaker also pointed out that Leader of the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia attended proceedings of the House only lor 27 out of 287 working days ol (he 13 sessions. Besides the Opposition staged walk out as many as 89 times over the pe-riod. he added