‘BNP MPs won’t legitimise the parliament’

BNP lawmakers today said that their joining at the parliament will not give legitimacy to the 11th parliament which was “formed through an unacceptable election”.

While discussing on supplementary budget for 2018-19 at the parliament, they also said that they joined the parliament as their party is not getting space for democratic practice like holding protest rallies in line with constitutional rights.

“Many are talking that why we have joined the parliament, when there is question that the last general election was unacceptable,” Harunur Rashid said.

“The Election Commission has failed to hold an acceptable election. They have destroyed parliamentary election as well as local government election,” he added.

“Joining of six BNP MPs in the parliament will not give legitimacy parliament,” he said.

BNP lawmakers Harun and Rumeen Farhana, said that they joined the parliament as their party is not getting scope to hold democratic rights like holding processions, rallies and others.

“There is absence of democratic space for us to express our demands in line with constitution,” Harun said. “Awami League or grand alliance are allowed to hold rallies with fun fare but when we want to hold rallies then question of permission arise.”

He said that BNP lawmakers joined the parliament in a bid to restore good governance in the country.

“I urge leader of the house to hold a national dialogue with participation from leaders of political parties to have good governance in the country,” he proposed.

Rumeen Farhana said that they have joined the parliament as the BNP was not allowed to hold protest. “We came here to talk about countrymen, party activist in the parliament,” she said.

“All 300 constituencies were looted in the last election”, she alleged.

She also demanded disclosure of the names of bad loan holders in the country.  

Rumeen faced hue and cry from treasury bench several times and deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah who was presiding over the sitting at the time, expunged unparliamentarily words of the speech of lone BNP woman lawmaker.