National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Abdullah Al Amin on Wednesday raised concern over the country’s fuel crisis, questioning the gap between government assurances and the reality faced by citizens at petrol pumps.
"We hear in Parliament that there is no shortage of oil in the country. “We hear in Parliament that there is no shortage of oil. But what is the use of having oil in Parliament if it is not available at petrol pumps? We do not find it at the petrol pumps. My car stands in queue until 3:00 or 4:00am just to get five or six litres of fuel," he said during a discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech in Parliament.
Reflecting on his election, the NCP lawmaker stated that the younger generation, fuelled by the aspirations of the mass uprising, elected him in hopes of genuine change.
He further alleged that the initial political consensus regarding reforms is fading due to the ruling party's reluctance.
"We see politicisation in banks, universities, and government institutions. In the Bangladesh Cricket Board, we even saw 'Baaper Doa-karan' (nepotism). Pro-party businessmen are being appointed to Bangladesh Bank," Al Amin added.
SM Jahangir Hossain, the ruling party MP from Dhaka-18, countered by tracing the roots of political unrest back to 2010, following the eviction of Khaleda Zia from her Cantonment residence.
He credited his leader, Tarique Rahman, with leading a 17-year struggle that led to the fall of "fascism" on August 5, 2024.
Regarding his constituency, Jahangir complained that the 12 wards newly included in the Dhaka North City Corporation in 2017 have seen no development.
He proposed connecting the Abdullahpur embankment to the 300-feet road to alleviate local traffic congestion.
The session also saw sharp criticism of the President from several members.
Opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami MP Mohammad Zahirul Islam from Chattogram-16 expressed disappointment, stating he could not thank the President due to a perceived lack of consistent political principles.
Similarly, Al Faruk Abdul Latif of Nilphamari-2 argued that a President who remained silent during "injustice, disappearances, and murders" of the previous fascist regime does not deserve a vote of thanks.
In contrast, Md Anwarul Islam of Netrokona-2 criticised the opposition's conduct, describing their alleged neglect of the national anthem and their decision to walk out during the President's speech as "duplicity."