FROM PAGE 1

and declared the walkout. Opposition lawmakers then left the chamber.

The opposition alleged that no decision was reached on their adjournment motion and accused the government of suppressing their proposal by bringing another notice on the same issue.

“We are deeply surprised, hurt, and aggrieved. There have been three referendums in Bangladesh before, and none ended like this. In all three cases, the people’s verdict was honoured. This is the first time when all of us -- government and opposition -- were united and sought votes in favour of it, yet it has been ignored, defied, and brought to an end,” Shafiqur said during the briefing.

He added, “We sincerely wanted a resolution within the House. Had it been resolved inside the House, the people would have been pleased. Since the people’s will was not duly respected and accepted within the House, we now have only one path -- to return to the people. We will go back to those who gave us this mandate.”

Calling the situation painful and unfortunate, he said the 11-party alliance would meet soon to decide their next course of action.

WALK-OUT

Lawmakers from Jamaat, the National Citizen Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Khelafat Majlish left the House around 5:45pm and did not return. The debate on Shafiqur’s adjournment motion, calling for the Constitution Reform Council in line with the July charter, had ended the previous day without resolution.

Yesterday, Shafiqur again raised the issue, refuting remarks by Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman. “Perhaps he did not pay close attention to my statement. I do not believe he said it intentionally, but he went beyond the subject and made some personal remarks about me. Our notice was mainly about the referendum and the convening of the council that was supposed to be formed on the basis of that referendum,” he said.

Responding to a proposal from the home minister, Shafiqur said, “Since the discussion was centred on the convening of the Constitution Reform Council, if a special committee were to be formed around it, we would consider it positively. That is why we called upon you to make a decision. But I could not understand whether any decision was made. I would like to hear a clear explanation from you.”

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad explained that the proposal was an adjournment motion adopted in his absence. He noted that in Bangladesh’s 53-year parliamentary history, only three adjournment motions had been passed. “You know very well that an adjournment motion cannot be brought on an issue that can only be resolved through legislation. Even so, it was accepted generously to give the opposition a chance to speak,” he said.

He added that another adjournment motion would be considered, giving the opposition further opportunity to raise points.

Shafiqur responded, “The issue we had all agreed on before the election -- both the ruling party and the opposition -- as one we supported and campaigned for. Yet, we did not receive the remedy we expected. This is not just about us; it reflects that the verdict of the people was neither honoured nor valued. As the opposition, we cannot accept this disregard. Therefore, in protest, we are staging a walkout.”

The Speaker urged him to stay and listen, but Shafiqur said: “That notice has already come to our attention, and we believe it has been brought forward to overshadow the main notice. For this reason, we are walking out of the parliament in protest.”

As the opposition left, the Speaker remarked, “You can walk out as tradition of the House.”

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed later said: “The Leader of the Opposition chose to walk out, and under parliamentary practice that is their right.” He noted that Shafiqur had already objected to the adjournment motion adopted earlier. “Issues which can only be resolved through legislation cannot be discussed under an adjournment motion. Out of generosity, the Speaker allowed it to be raised as a matter of national importance, and two hours were allocated for discussion. But once debate has taken place, parliamentary practice is that ‘It’s talked out.’ There is no provision for a vote on the resolution itself,” Salahuddin said.