Some MPs criticise ministers absent in JS

Several MPs came down heavily on the ministers who were absent in Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) on Tuesday and demanded their presence in the House. While reading out a notice on issues of public importance, Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam first pointed out the absence of Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the House. Haji Mohammad Selim (independent–Dhaka) and former minister Abul Kalam Azad (Awami League) joined the discussion pointing out the absence of the ministers. ‘The full minister is absent…my friend and half minister (of LGRD) is present, I want to draw his attention,’ Imam said while reading out his call attention notice. Imam raised an issue concerning the Local Government Division of which Syed Ashraful Islam is the minister. ‘We read out important notices in the House, but the ministers remain absent. One minister is present, though he is newly married,’ Independent MP Haji Selim told the House. Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, who was in the chair, warned Haji Selim not to use ‘provocative and unparliamentary’ language. ‘Your statement will be expunged from the proceeding,’ he said. While reading out his notice of public importance on food security, former minister Abul Kalam Azad pointed out that the ministers in-charge of home, health, and industries were not present in the House. He proposed that the House should form a special committee to look into the food security issues as the ministers were absent, according to a news agency.