Bangladesh National Parliament burst into laughter on Saturday as independent MP Rezaul Karim Bablu demanded the government enact a law barring working men from marrying working women. The MP from Bogura-7 came up with the ‘hilarious’ proposal as he thinks it will help resolve the country’s unemployment problem. While participating in the discussion on a proposed law titled “The Delimitation of Constituencies Bill, 2021”, Bablu said he thinks the unemployment problem will go if the marriages between working women and working men are barred, triggering a laughter in the House. In reply, Law Minister Anisul Haque turned down his demand calling it unconstitutional. Bablu said there should be a law in the country so that working men cannot marry working women. “If this law is enacted, there’ll be no unemployment problem in the country. If both the husband and the wife remain in services, they have to leave behind their child or children at home alone. This is how many children are abused and tortured by domestic-helps. If we get a law in this regard, such repressive acts will decline in the country substantially,” the independent MP said in support of his contention. READ: Gandhi Ashram Bill goes through Parliament Currently, he said, there are four crore unemployed people in the country. “But this unemployment problem cannot be solved with working men marrying working women, or working women marrying working men. That’s why, the unemployed people always remain unemployed in the country.” Reacting to Rezaul Karim's statement, Anisul Haq said, "Sorry, I just cannot move forward, even one or two steps, from my position to entertain such a proposal.” The minister, however, said there is freedom of speech in the country. “So, anyone can say anything. An MP also enjoys such rights. But, as a law minister and public representative, I cannot say whatever I wish.” READ: Parliament passes Delimitation Bill replacing ordinance Taking part in the discussion on another Bill, Bablu tried to say more in favour of his proposal, but he could not proceed as Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury, who was presiding over the session, requested him to speak specifically on the proposed law --“The Delimitation of Constituencies Bill, 2021”.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Wednesday said people are getting confused and losing their trust in the government due to ‘funny’ remarks by ministers. In a statement, he also said ministers are making ‘contradictory’ remarks for lack of coordination.  The Jatiya Party chief said Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haqu’s remarks on taking punitive action against those unvaccinated people aged 18 or above who go outside from August 11 is not only unreasonable, unrealistic and unacceptable, but also completely ridiculous. GM Quader said the number of people in the country who have so far been vaccinated with two doses of the vaccines is less than one crore. READ: Mass vaccination only solution to Covid crisis: GM Quader According to a report of the Covid Taskforce, Bangladesh is one of the countries lagging behind in vaccination drive. “Bangladesh also lags far behind in Southeast Asia in this regard.” The Jatiya Party chief said when the entire world is making life normal through vaccination, it seems the government is taking imprudent decisions to avoid its failure to ensure vaccine jabs for people. He said the minimum age limit for the vaccination is still 25 years. “In that case, how can the garment workers between the ages of 18 and 24 go to factories? How’ll transport workers of this age go out to work?  Or how’ll the shopkeepers of this age open their shops?”  Quader also said the health ministry issued a statement on Tuesday disagreeing with Liberation War Affairs Minister’s comment on not allowing unvaccinated people on the streets.  “Such incidents are happening repeatedly due to the unplanned and short-sighted decisions and for lack of coordination.” People get confused with such statements of the ministers. At the same time, ordinary people are losing trust in the government,” he said. On Tuesday, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said it has been made mandatory to take Covid jabs for public movement from August 11.  “Any movement by people aged 18 or above without being vaccinated would be considered a punishable offence.” However, the minister withdrew his statement by issuing a media release on Wednesday. READ: Ensure food for poor: GM Quader “All citizens above the age of 18 will be vaccinated in phases. But Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque is withdrawing the part of his statement that anyone above 18 years will not be allowed to go outside after August 11,” the release said.