Awaml League (AL) lawmakers in parliament yesterday blasted President lajuddin Ahmed for "violating the constitution and conspiring against democracy" in the last two years.

They were discussing the thanksgiving motion on the president's address to the inaugural session of the ninth parliament

A few ruling party lawmakers including AL Presidium mem ber Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir came down heavily on die AntiCorruption Commission (ACC). They termed the ACC the most corrupt institution, and called for a parliamentary probe into its last two years' activities.

The lawmakers accused the president of betraying the nation by remaining silent and approving all misdeeds of the BNP-Jamaat government and the caretaker government.

They also opposed giving thanks to the president for his inaugural speech.

BNP-led opposition lawmakers had boycotted die president's address accusing him of violating the constitution. A BNP lawmaker even submitted a notice demanding a discussion on the president's alleged violation of the constitution.

The speaker, however, rejected the notice along with 20 other notices.

The ruling party lawmakers followed their arch-rival's suit and criticised the outgoing president. They even raised question on whether the new parliament should thank the president as lawmakers have started opposingtlie motion.

"I am. raising allegations against die president in parliament. He has betrayed the nation by breaching the constitution and for which he has to be held accountable," AL leader Alamgir told the House as ruling party lawmakers kept on tliump-ingtiicirdesks.

He also accused the immediate past caretaker government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed of breacliing the constitution.

He said the highest ever amount of money was laundered when Fakhruddin Ahmed was

thegovemorofBangladesh Bank

The AL presidium member said all officials of the ACC should be asked to submit their wealth statements.

He questioned the legality of the procedure through which the ACC cliief and other officials of the commission were appointed.

Tn the name of curbing corruption, conspiracy was hatched to control politicians and place kings' party in power, " said Alamgir, who was sentenced to several years' imprisonment in a graft case during the care-takergovemment regime.

He said steps needed to be taken to prevent soldiers from taking arms and snatching power.

AL lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor said the president should have apologised for breaching public trust. He did not object to any of the misdeeds by the BNP-led government.

vSo it's not possible for me to thank the president," Noor said.

AL lawmakers Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, MA Mannan, Abdul Majid Khan, ABM Golam Mostafa and Israfil Alam took part in the discussion.