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Warrant of Precedence

Lawmakers for upgrade in their status

Staff Correspondent
Awami League led ruling alliance lawmakers yesterday overwhelmingly backed a demand for restoration of the warrant of precedence promulgated in 1973 in order to upgrade their status.
As per the warrant of prece dence of '73, the rank of MPs was higher than any unelected persons.
Moyeen Uddin Khan Badal, a lawmaker from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), a component of AL-led alliance, placed the demand in parliament and requested the Speaker to direct the authorities to change the existing warrant of precedence.
The lawmakers spontaneously supported the demand by thumping their desks. After the speech of Badal, AL presid-ium member Suranjit Sengupta said the matter should be settled once and for all.
"Let the issue be settled once and for all. MPs will get privileges over everybody," Suranjit, also chairman of the parliamentary standing com-
mittee on the law ministry, said while taking part in the unscheduled brief discussion that began following a remark of the health minister, which provoked a sharp reaction from die JSD lawmaker.
Badal said that according to the existing warrant of precedence, which was made during the military regime In 1986, the status of MPs is lower than the cabinet secretary, principal secretary and chiefs of three services.
But it was Bangabandhu who properly recognised the dignity of lawmakers and upheld their status and there was a little gap between the ministers and die MPs, he added.
"But the existing warrant of precedence has widen the gap between the ministers and MPs." he said. According to the warrant of precedence, the ministers rank fifth in order of precedence while the MPs 13th.
Badal alleged that ministers do not respond to lawmakers' queries with respect due to the wide gap in the status in order of precedence.
The JSD lawmaker also demanded that the Speaker expunge a remark made by Health Minister AFM Ruhul Haque while answering to a query from Badal during the question-answer session.
In reply to a query, the health minister said he who' raised the issue of the practice of going abroad for treatment will also go abroad for treatment if he gets such an opportunity.
Taking floor to give his personal clarification, Badal strongly protested the minister's remark and said he never took any kind of opportunities during his political career.
Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali, who was presiding the sitting at that time, assured the lawmaker of examining the remark of the health minister and taking necessary steps.
’The minister's remark will be expunged, if necessary," he said.
About the demand for amendment to the warrant of precedence, the deputy speaker said necessary action would be taken on receiving notice on the matter.