Remarks on opposition JP expunged amid row

The remark of independent member Rustum Ali Faraji saying ‘there is no real opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament)’ was expunged from the parliament proceedings amid protests by opposition Jatiya Party members on Tuesday. Taking floor to give personal clarification, Faraji criticised Finance Minister AMA Muhith for his Monday’s remark in the House saying many MPs oppose the bill out of their ignorance. Faraji, an ex-Jatiya Party MP said, ‘I respect the Finance Minister. There’s no real opposition in this parliament. We (independent MPs) are also in the mid position. We try to find faults. The Prime Minister encourages us…if we go to speak about the bill, the minister protests. The Finance Minister branded us ignorant. But he can’t call any member of parliament as ignorant. The MPs felt humiliated for his remarks,’ he said. Faraji, however, said they felt lucky as they did not hear the word ‘rubbish’. Following Faraji’s remarks on the opposition party in parliament, JP members in chorus made hullabaloo. Taking floor, crying for expunging the remark of Faraji, JP member Kazi Firoz Rashid said, ‘We’re not such type of opposition who will not attend the House and hurl files and use abuses as being elected and take privileges as MPs for five years.’ He said JP members talked about faults of the government on every issue. In reply, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said, ‘It’ll be expunged,’ according to a news agency.