Jamaat-e-Islami MP Shafiqul Islam Masud on Monday claimed that if the Constitution were strictly upheld, the current Prime Minister would not be in the country but abroad.
Taking part in a discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech, the lawmaker from Patuakhali-2 argued that adherence to the 1972 Constitution would have fundamentally altered the present political situation.
"If the Constitution had truly protected us, we would not be here today. According to the 1972 Constitution, we should not be in Parliament—rather, we should be in prison, and the Prime Minister should be outside the country," he said.
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Masud alleged that the people of Bangladesh had been "deceived" and warned that any attempt to deny a referendum would provoke a nationwide movement to enforce it.
Referring to the ongoing debate over the so-called July Charter, he cautioned that ignoring public opinion could lead to renewed political unrest.
He also recounted his personal experiences, claiming prolonged legal harassment, including multiple arrests and enforced disappearances, and questioned the role of state agencies during that period.
Meanwhile, Tahsina Rushdir, wife of missing Ilias Ali, raised concerns over unresolved cases of enforced disappearance. She said families of the missing continue to seek answers regarding the fate of their loved ones.
"We may have moved past a fascist period, but we still do not know where our relatives are," she said, demanding accountability and rehabilitation support for affected families.
On the treasury bench, Azizul Bari Helal claimed that essential commodity prices remained stable during Ramadan and Eid—an occurrence he described as unprecedented in the past 55 years.
He credited the leadership of Tarique Rahman for maintaining price stability despite global market pressures.
Another ruling party MP, Shahidul Islam, criticized past development claims, alleging that rural areas saw little tangible progress.
Additionally, Atiqur Rahman Mujahid highlighted logistical challenges faced by lawmakers, noting the lack of office facilities in their constituencies. He urged the Speaker to take steps to ensure MPs have designated spaces to engage with constituents.