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Opposition lawmaker from Rajshahi-1 Prof Mujibur Rahman has called for restoring the constitutional provision affirming complete faith and trust in Allah, establishing regular prayer and introducing a state-run Zakat system.
He also stressed the importance of parliamentarians developing their character and religious practice, and urged lawmakers to make proper use of prayer breaks during parliamentary sessions.
In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said religious practice was a matter of individual freedom and personal faith.
Speaking on a point of order on Tuesday, the Jamaat MP referred to the constitutional provision on faith and trust in Allah, saying such a provision had previously been included as one of the fundamental principles of the Constitution but was later removed.
Noting that more than 90 percent of Bangladesh’s population is Muslim, he referred to the breaks for Asr and Maghrib prayers during parliamentary proceedings.
He said that if entrusted with power, the primary responsibility should be to establish prayer and introduce a Zakat system to help eliminate hunger, poverty and unemployment from society.
Calling on the Speaker and the Prime Minister to introduce prayer and Zakat at the state level, Mujibur Rahman said administrative initiatives in this regard would help build citizens’ character and prepare them for accountability in the hereafter.
Responding to the MP, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said practising religion depended entirely on individual freedom and belief.
“Islam is a religion of humanity. If religion is practised properly, one will attain paradise, while neglecting it will lead to hell. You know this better than I do,” the Speaker said.
He said no parliamentary notice could be issued to force anyone to practise a particular religion.
However, respecting the sentiments expressed by the MP, the Speaker expressed hope that everyone would follow the teachings of Allah.
Later, Mymensingh MP Fakhruddin Ahmed took the floor on a point of order and said people regularly offer prayers not only at designated places but also outside mosques.
The Speaker interrupted him and immediately issued a ruling, instructing lawmakers not to turn the matter into a new debate.
Army accident raised in Parliament
At one stage, Rashedul Islam Rashed, also speaking on a point of order, informed Parliament about the deaths of two army personnel in a tragic tank-firing accident at the Field Firing Range in Hathazari, Chattogram.
He formally informed the Speaker and Parliament that two soldiers had been killed and an officer seriously injured in an unexpected accident during a firing exercise.
Following the statement, the Speaker said the procedural rules governing the use of points of order had not been followed.
He explained that a point of order could be used only to correct an error in an ongoing discussion or to prevent disorder.
Therefore, bringing an unrelated accident report directly under a point of order was not appropriate, he said.