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Censuring Prof Sayeed

Loose-talking MPs lambasted

Staff Correspondent
Deputy Speaker Col (retd) Shawkat Ali yesterday sharply criticised the Awami League-led ruling alliance lawmakers who slammed noted litterateur Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed in parliament on Sunday for his alleged “derogatory” remarks
about MPs and ministers.
It was very unfortunate to criticise a highly respected personality like Prof Sayeed on the basis of newspaper reports which proved unfounded, Shawkat told journalists.
Eminent citizens have expressed the view that it was not a matter to discuss in the House and the lawmakers should have verified his statement before criticising him.
A section of the alliance MPs demanded that Prof Sayeed offer an unconditional apology in the House for his reported comment.
They claimed that he termed MPs and ministers "thieves and dacoits" at a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) programme in the capital on
Saturday.
Founder of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra Prof Sayeed told The Daily Star yesterday that he did not make such remarks. Rather, he was upset to see the parliamentarians slamming him without checking or verifying his statement.
"I didn't say anything about parliament or members of parliament or ministers at the programme,” he said. The MPs should have checked the facts before discussing the matter, added Prof Sayeed, also a Trustee Board member ofTIB.
Talking to journalists after a discussion at the ministers' hostel at parliament building complex, the deputy speaker said, "Before we asked him, Prof Abu Sayeed himself made it clear that he did not make such
comment." Then why there was such reaction in parliament since the allegation was unfounded, he added.
The deputy speaker said he would have stopped the discussion if he was in the chair at that time. It resulted from misunderstanding and "we all should forget it".
Later, Shawkat said in parliament yesterday a statement of
Prof Sayeed was discussed in the house on Sunday. A few MPs spoke about it. Prof Sayeed in a statement published in the daily Samakal yesterday clarified that he did not make any such comment, which was published in the daily Inqilab.
The deputy speaker also said Prof Sayeed, if he wants, can go to the Press Council or take legal action against the newspaper.
Contacted, renowned educationist Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury said the matter was not something that had to be discussed in parliament.
It was not right to discuss in the House a matter which Prof Sayeed did not talk about, he said.
It reflected the lack of tolerance in political culture, Serajul Islam observed.
Asked, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the statement of Prof Sayeed should have been reviewed first before making any comment on him in parliament.
"We'll exercise our right to freedom of expression. We'll even sacrifice our blood to protect the right of our critics to criticise us. That promotes democracy,” he said.