Play store
Opposition lawmakers walked out of a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday afternoon, refusing to take part in discussions on the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill.
The meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Earlier in the day, opposition members had also refrained from participating in discussions on the National Human Rights Commission Bill at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law.
The two bills were introduced in Parliament last Thursday and were subsequently sent to the respective standing committees for scrutiny and submission of reports.
Two opposition members of the Home Ministry committee, Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers Nurul Islam and Abdul Baten, attended the meeting but walked out before discussions began.
According to sources, they said they had opposed the introduction of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill in Parliament and had walked out of the House in protest. They said they would similarly boycott the parliamentary committee meeting as part of their protest.
A press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat after the meeting confirmed that committee members Md Nurul Islam and Md Abdul Baten had walked out.
Committee Chairman Zainul Abedin said that committee members have the opportunity and responsibility to present amendments or opinions, offer suggestions and oppose a bill if necessary.
“However, walking out of a meeting does not fall within parliamentary practice and procedure,” he said.