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joined the Awami League’s election with fanfare, not us.”

As protests intensified, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad intervened, asking members not to obstruct proceedings and to present their arguments in due course.

Resuming his speech, the state minister said, “In the July uprising, we were all with the students and people. We did not take the trophy from anyone. But who was the captain? That is known to Dr Muhammad Yunus. That is why he went to London, handed the trophy to our captain, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and came back with the election date.”

“This proves which party and which leader played the leading role in the movement. There can be many participants, but only one captain,” he added.

Addressing Speaker Hafiz, Shahe Alam further said, “Seeing you here, some may be pleased; some may not. But you represent 1971. That credit goes to BNP, because independence was declared by President Ziaur Rahman.”

The state minister pointed to the presence of freedom fighters on the treasury benches and claimed none were on the opposition side, prompting renewed protests.

The speaker responded by noting that freedom fighters were also present on the opposition benches, citing Gazi Nazrul Islam as an example.

Mir Shahe Alam also referred to Khaleda Zia, saying that during her 2001 government she had honoured opposition MPs by providing them cars with flags and indemnity.

He stressed that the current parliament was the outcome of collective political struggles.

He also said that in the 2018 election, under the banner of Jatiya Oikya Front, the current opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman and Jamaat leaders had contested using the BNP’s sheaf of paddy symbol.

Following his speech, Shafiqur took the floor, saying, “We pledged from day one that this opposition will not be conventional. We will cooperate in all just causes and will uncompromisingly oppose all unjust, anti-people measures. But today, while thanking the president, the honourable member has overwhelmed us with countless falsehoods.”

“Some of these you yourself corrected. We demand that no false information be presented in parliament. We demand expunging of false information,” he added, addressing the speaker.

In response, the speaker said, “I will examine the speech. If there is any unparliamentary or false information, it will be expunged.”