President Md Abdul Hamid, who was the youngest and newest MP after independence, has recalled Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's days in parliament, reports bdnews24.com.
In his commemorative speech on Monday during a special parliament session on the Father of the Nation marking his birth centenary, Hamid remembered Bangabandhu's efforts to make parliament effective after independence.
A constituent assembly was formed to frame the constitution immediately after Bangabandhu returned to Bangladesh after his release from a Pakistani prison.
The first session of the constituent assembly was held on Apr 10, 1972. The members of the national and provincial assemblies of Pakistan who were elected through the general election of 1970 took oath as the members of this assembly.
At the start of the assembly's session on the first day, Bangabandhu proposed the name of veteran leader Moulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish as its chairperson, Hamid recalled.
The members of the constituent assembly took oath under Moulana Rashid's chairmanship and elected Shah Abdul Hamid speaker and Mohammadullah deputy speaker.
The main responsibility of the constituent assembly was framing of a constitution for the country.
"It was a matter of great interest and attraction for me to participate in the sessions of the Constituent Assembly as its youngest and newest member," Hamid said.
"As an utterly new member, I used to observe with great enthusiasm the performances of the senior and experienced members.
The parliamentarian Bangabandhu was then at the centre of my interest," the president recalled.
The president was seated next to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. Fanfare was played in bugle when he entered the room. Around 290 MPs attended the session.
The speaker, on behalf of parliament, presented Hamid with Bangabandhu's biographical books after his speech.
A video of the speech Bangabandhu delivered after his homecoming was exhibited during the session.
Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister, appeared emotional while watching the video. The MPs chanted the "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu" slogan at the time.
Hamid said Bangabandhu used to attach the highest priority to the proceedings of the constituent assembly.
There were no opposition parties in the assembly, and the number of opposition members was less than 10 when all parties and independents were combined. But the opposition members were quite vocal and used to get sufficient time for placing their arguments, Hamid said.
"The parliamentary sessions were quite lively. The arguments, debates and presentations of views were very attractive."
"I clearly remember the member of Constituent Assembly Suranjit Sengupta, who was elected from NAP. He always got the opportunity whenever he wanted to speak. Even when the Speaker did not want to give him the microphone, Bangabandhu used to say, 'Give him a chance, the opposition views should be heard first,'" Hamid said.
Bangabandhu also used to attach importance to the opinions of opposition members in all the proceedings of parliament.
"The Awami League Parliamentary Party has not finalised everything - whatever is said by one or two independent or opposition members, I do not have any objection; if you propose good amendments, we shall accept those by assuming that they are surely for the good of the country," Hamid quoted Bangabandhu as speaking on the draft Rules of Procedure.
The president praised parliament for convening the special session in the midst of the pandemic situation.
"I hope the proceedings of this session will play a positive role in informing the present and future generations about Bangabandhu's life and works," he said.
Hamid said a complete discussion on Bangabandhu can never be possible within a limited time and space.
"The extent of his life and work is so vast that even discussion of hours or even days together will leave it inadequately described," he said. "I hope that the country's eminent politicians, historians, academics, researchers and journalists will contribute significantly in disseminating Bangabandhu's biography, work and ideals worldwide."
President Hamid said there is no scope to look at Bangabandhu and Bangladesh separately.
"One has to know about Bangabandhu in order to know Bangladesh, the struggle for freedom of the Bangalis and the liberation war. Those who tried to look at these two phenomena separately have failed," he said.
"Today's reality is the biggest proof of that."
Hamid urged everyone to take initiative to ensure that the future generation nurture Bangabandhu's ideologies.
"Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is not merely a name. Bangabandhu is an institution, an entity, a history," he said.
He called for unity against misleading propaganda, communalism, undemocratic behaviour and violence to materialise Bangabandhu's dream of a prosperous Bangladesh.
Immediately after his homecoming, Bangabandhu started working for the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country and its economy. He adopted sector-based development plans for agriculture, industry, culture, health, tourism, defence, communication and other sectors.
Bangabandhu also ensured equality of men and women in the constitution and provided assurance for their equal participation at all strata of the state and public life. He took initiatives to enhance diplomatic contacts in order to consolidate Bangladesh's position in the international arena.
