DHAKA: The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lawmakers, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, staged its first-ever walkout of the Parliament in its inaugural session ahead of President Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed’s speech, accusing him of breaching his oath in office.
“The president broke his oath by not arranging elections as head of the caretaker government within 90 days,” senior BNP lawmaker Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury told newsmen after the walkout.
Bangladesh’s Parliament began business yesterday after two years of military rule, with the speaker calling on lawmakers to make democracy work however, the opposition walked out.
“We must think for the welfare of common people. Let us play a constructive role in Parliament and make democracy effective,” Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Abdul Hamid, said in his speech.
Most of the lawmakers, including Prime Minister Hasina Wajed and the leader of the opposition Khaleda, had initially attended the inaugural session.
In his speech, the president called on all to play their part to establish rule of law eliminating corruption and terrorism through collective efforts.
“Poverty alleviation, elimination of corruption and terrorism, trial of war criminals and establishment of good governance would be the main objective of the new government,” Iajuddin said, adding that the Awami League-led alliance government has infused new life in different sectors for development.
A “grand alliance” led by the Awami League won more than two-thirds of Parliament’s 300 seats in a Dec. 29 election, against just 33 taken by the BNP and its allies.
