BNP lawmaker Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan on Wednesday alleged that the opposition has begun plotting both inside and outside Parliament to destabilise the government.
“We want to tell the opposition ‘those who voted for us will not sit idle. They will not just watch; they will protest,’” he said, participating in the discussion on thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech in the House.
His remarks sparked strong objections from opposition lawmakers, including Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman, who protested what he described as threatening language used in Parliament.
“An MP standing in Parliament has spoken in a threatening tone, and we are hurt by this. What does he mean by saying the people will not sit idle? Is he inciting the people towards unrest? We strongly condemn this,” Shafiqur Rahman said, demanding that the remarks be expunged as unparliamentary.
Referring to clashes at Chattogram City College between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir, Wadud Bhuiyan said Shibir activists had attacked Chhatra Dal men.
Chhatra Dal just called Chhatra Shibir ‘Gupto’ (secret infiltrators), he said, adding that they carried out an attack on democracy of Bangladesh through attacking Chhatra Dal.
His remarks triggered loud protests from opposition members, who interrupted proceedings with noises. Despite the disruption, he continued his speech.
Pointing at the opposition, Wadud Bhuiyan said they were engaged in a conspiracy to destabilise the government both inside and outside Parliament, which he said was unacceptable in a stable democratic system.
He further claimed that those who do not accept the independence of 1971 cannot support national development, and accused the opposition of attempting to suppress democratic speech.
“We have been elected to speak in this Parliament. They are trying to silence us like fascists,” the BNP lawmaker said, adding that the opposition’s behaviour indicated a threat to political stability.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad later said members may have different political views, but disruptions during speeches are not acceptable.
He assured that the parliamentary record would be reviewed and any unparliamentary language would be expunged if necessary.
The Speaker also advised members to respond through speeches rather than interrupting proceedings.