Staff Reporter:
The opposition in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament boycotted the inaugural speech of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, with opposition leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman stating that the boycott was due to what he described as three “offences” committed by the president.
The president faced strong protests from opposition lawmakers at the beginning of his address, prompting opposition members to stage a walkout from the parliamentary session.
As per parliamentary tradition, the president delivers a speech at the first session of the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament).
Speaking to journalists after the walkout, Shafiqur said the current parliament stands on the sacrifices of the July martyrs and claimed that the opposition had earlier requested that no “associates of fascism or perpetrators of killings” be allowed to speak in the House.
The Jamaat leader alleged that the president was responsible for three major actions. Firstly, he claimed that the president had been complicit in incidents of killings. Secondly, he referred to the president’s national address on 5 August 2024, where he had stated that the then prime minister had resigned and that he had accepted the resignation, but later allegedly denied the statement, which the opposition leader said undermined his credibility.
As a third allegation, Shafiqur said the president had signed an ordinance related to the election process stating that elected members of parliament would also serve as members of a reform council and that both oaths would be administered on the same day by the same authority.
He also alleged that although the opposition members took both oaths, the ruling party did not.
He further claimed that the president had failed to convene a session of the reform council within 30 days of issuing the ordinance, which he said was a constitutional obligation. Referring to a referendum in which he claimed 70% of voters supported the measure, the opposition leader alleged that the president had disregarded the public mandate.
Meanwhile, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam urged the speaker to ensure that no “fascist elements or their associates” be allowed to address the parliament, saying such speeches could undermine the dignity of the House.
