DHAKA, 18 March 2004 — Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar has ruled out the dissolution of Parliament before Oct. 27, 2006 as per the country’s constitution.
If the government is changed through unconstitutional means, it would be a violation of Article 72 of the constitution, he warned.
The speaker gave the ruling in response to a question by an opposition lawmaker, Bangabir Kader Siddiqui, who drew the attention of Sircar to the statement of Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil that the government would collapse by April 30.
Quoting Article 72 (3) of the constitution, the lawmaker said that the Parliament should complete five years.
As per the constitution, the president can dissolve Parliament in consultation with the prime minister.
He wanted to know whether the statement about the change of government by April 30, made by an important lawmaker, indicated the Parliament would be dissolved.
The speaker said that the House was convened on Oct. 28, 2001 and would continue until Oct. 27, 2006 as per the constitution. He said if there is any change of government other than through constitutional means, it would be a violation of Article 72 (3) of the constitution.
State Minister for Youth and Sports, Fazlur Rahman, took the floor and said that the statement of Abdul Jalil was “rubbish”.
“Who is Abdul Jalil to change the government with only 58 MPs”, questioned Rahman. He asserted that the House would not be dissolved a day before completing its five-year term.
Ruling party lawmakers, including Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia applauded Rahman.
