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BNP joins JS

Walks out twice over Mahmudur's arrest

Staff Correspondent
The BNP-led opposition finally joined the budget session in parliament that began yesterday but walked out of the House twice in protest against shutdown of daily Amar Desh and arrest of its acting editor Mahmudur Rahman.
They staged the first walkout in the afternoon minutes after beginning of the House proceedings, protesting against the
speaker's refusal to allow BNP lawmaker Moudud Ahmed to speakonpoint of order.
Again, after Moudud spoke on point of order, the opposition deputies staged the second walkout at 8:05pm protesting against closedown of the newspaper and arrest of its acting editor.
After staging the first walkout at 5:30pm, the BNP lawmakers returned to the House around 7:50pm after the question-answer hourwas over.
Taking floor on point of order, Moudud launched a fierce attack on the government for cancellation of the declaration of Amar Desh and arrest of Rahman.
He termed the incident "the blackest day for democracy" and demanded that the government immediately withdraw the cancellation order and release of Rahman.
"The Amar Desh is the country's most popular daily as it criticises the government's failure and speaks the truth," Moudud said.
Cancellation of declaration of Amar Desh and arrest of Rahman means interference in the freedom of press, he said.
"Freedom of press is now fully controlled. Mahmudur Rahman is an unparallel and brave journalist. The government could not tolerate his criticism," Moudud, also formerlawminister, said.
He also blasted the government for its "failure" to control the price hike of essentials and deterioration in law and order.
As Moudud was speaking, a number of treasury bench lawmakers were shouting protesting against his remarks. But Moudud completed his speech and led the second walkout.
The government on Tuesday cancelled the declaration of the Bangla daily Amar Desh citing that it has no authorised publisher and law enforcers arrested Mahmudur at its office in the early hours o (Wednesday.
In response to Moudud, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad however claimed it was not the government but the deputy commissioner of Dhaka cancelled the declaration of the newspaper according to The
Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973.
He said Rahman was arrested in connection with a case filed by Hasmat Ali, whose name was used as publisher of the daily.
The minister also blasted Moudud personally for his "immoral and opportunist character".
He claimed the country's media is enjoying maximum freedom comparing to even the western media.
However, the incident centring Amar Desh prompted the main opposition, which was in quandary over joining the inaugural sitting of the budget session, to overcome the dilemma.
"Certainly, it's a crucial issue," Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, member of BNP national standing committee, said referring to the cancellation of declaration of Amar Desh, a BNP-leaning newspaper.
He said they had a conversa-tion with Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia about joining the session and "she told us that the party would join it".
Ending all uncertainty, the opposition lawmakers finally joined the House at the begin-ningofyesterday's proceedings.
As soon as the speaker began the question-answer hour at 5:28pm, Moudud Ahmed stood and demanded floor. But the speaker declined to meet his demand.
"You know well that the rules of procedure do not allow speaking prior to beginning of question-answer hour. If you have anything to say, you can do so after the question-answer hour," Hamid told Moudud.
Refused by the speaker, Moudud left his seat and led the walkout at 5:30pm to the disappointment of the speaker.
"It's very unfortunate... it's very regretfill. You won't abide by the rules of procedure... It should not be," the speaker commented.
The opposition lawmakers returned to the House after the question-answer hour was over and walked out of parliament. They didn't return to the House yesterday.
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