Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday raised an objection in Parlia-ment to the practice of MPs bowing their heads while entering the House chamber, saying it contradicts Islamic principles.
Raising the issue on a point of order at the start of the day’s sitting, he said an earlier provision in the Rules of Procedure required lawmakers to bow as a mark of respect while entering the chamber, but the matter was later reviewed and amended.
“In the 3rd Parliament, the Rules of Procedure stated that members should enter the chamber by bowing their heads in respect. Later, the matter was discussed and reviewed. I was also involved in the process at that time. Eventually, an amendment was made removing the provision because bowing in this manner is contradictory to Islam and may amount to sin Shirk,” Mujibur Rahman said.
He said MPs commonly bow their heads or offer greetings while entering the chamber.
Addressing Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, the lawmaker said, “I sometimes notice that you greet mem-bers nicely with salam, and we also exchange salam. But afterwards the old habit of bowing is still there. It happens with you and with the Deputy Speaker as well.”
He added that since the Rules of Procedure was amended to remove what he described as a practice linked to Shirk, all members should follow it. “That will be virtuous for us, will save us from sin, and will benefit us on the Day of Judgement,” he said.
In response, the Speaker said he will review the Rules of Procedure and examine whether such a provi-sion was indeed abolished in previous parliaments.
However, he noted that the matter could also be seen as a personal practice. “Some may offer salam, some may bow their heads. Similar practices exist in parliaments around the world,” he said, adding that he will look into the issue further.
