joining parliament by party mps

BNP divided over Tarique nod

A deep divide has surfaced in the BNP following the sudden decision by its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, to let party lawmakers-elect join Parliament without consulting the senior standing committee leaders. Expressing their surprise over the U-turn, some standing committee members have said that they might raise the matter in the next meeting of the committee and would like to know the reason behind this move.

Talking to The Independent, they questioned the need for such a decision at the last moment, saying it has created a misunderstanding confused the party rank and file. The leaders also said had the decision been taken in consultation with senior party leaders, such misunderstanding would not have arisen among the leaders.

They said the decision taken by the party acting chairman has proved to be embarrassing for them as they had been repeatedly saying that the party lawmakers-elect would not join Parliament. Some of them observed that the party would lose ground following such a “politics of compromise” and could face a disastrous situation.

The BNP was rigid on its stand of not joining Parliament after the party rejected the results of the December 30 parliamentary election over alleged vote rigging. But a few hours before the expiry of the deadline to take oath, Tariqur Rahman unilaterally decided to let the party lawmakers-elect to join Jatiya Sangsad.

At least two standing committee members claimed that they were in the dark about the decision of the party acting chairman. They, however, conceded that he had the supreme authority to take any decision.

“The party's stand on taking oath and joining Parliament was not proper,” said a standing committee member, preferring anonymity.

The leader, however, accused the lawmakers-elect of blackmailing the party acting chairman to make him justify their joining by sidelining the party forum. He also criticised the party secretary general for not taking oath and questioned whether he violated the decision of the party acting chairman.

Two standing committee members apparently aggrieved with the decision declined to make any comment. They advised this correspondent to contact the party secretary general in this regard.

Another standing committee member said they were embarrassed by the oath-taking by the lawmakers-elect, while the party secretary general refrained from doing so.

It would have been better for the party if the acting chairman had worked towards taking a unanimous decision over joining Parliament, he observed.

“The decision was taken by party acting chairman Tarique Rahman. We do not know anything about it,” said BNP vice-chairman Maj. (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed.

He also said the frequent changes in the party decision in line with the politics of compromise would take the party backwards.

BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, however, said that the decision to join Parliament by the party

lawmakers-elect was taken by the party acting chairman on strategic grounds. “It’s true that the decision to join Parliament has frustrated some leaders and activists. But the party regained its position through the decision of party secretary general not to join it,” he added.

  “We want to watch the attitude of the government. If necessary, it will not take time for our lawmakers to resign,” he said.

The BNP and its allies in both the 20-Party Alliance and Jatiya Oikyafront took part in the December 30 parliamentary election, where the BNP bagged only six seats and Ganaforum two. The Oikyafront turned down the election results, alleging ‘massive vote robbery’ and decided not to join Parliament.

The BNP, which had expelled its lawmaker-elect Zahidur Rahman Zahid of the Thakurgaon-2 constituency, finally agreed join Parliament. Four other lawmakers-elect of the party took oath in April 29, the late date for taking oath as Member of Parliament.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who was elected from the Bogura-6 constituency, however, refrained from taking oath, saying it was part of the party decision on strategic grounsd. Parliament declared his constituency vacant the following day.

joining parliament by party mps

BNP divided over Tarique nod

A deep divide has surfaced in the BNP following the sudden decision by its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, to let party lawmakers-elect join Parliament without consulting the senior standing committee leaders. Expressing their surprise over the U-turn, some standing committee members have said that they might raise the matter in the next meeting of the committee and would like to know the reason behind this move. Talking to The Independent, they questioned the need for such a decision at the last moment, saying it has created a misunderstanding confused the party rank and file. The leaders also said had the decision been taken in consultation with senior party leaders, such misunderstanding would not have arisen among the leaders. They said the decision taken by the party acting chairman has proved to be embarrassing for them as they had been repeatedly saying that the party lawmakers-elect would not join Parliament. Some of them observed that the party would lose ground following such a politics of compromise and could face a disastrous situation. The BNP was rigid on its stand of not joining Parliament after the party rejected the results of the December 30 parliamentary election over alleged vote rigging. But a few hours before the expiry of the deadline to take oath, Tariqur Rahman unilaterally decided to let the party lawmakers-elect to join Jatiya Sangsad. At least two standing committee members claimed that they were in the dark about the decision of the party acting chairman. They, however, conceded that he had the supreme authority to take any decision. The partys stand on taking oath and joining Parliament was not proper, said a standing committee member, preferring anonymity. The leader, however, accused the lawmakers-elect of blackmailing the party acting chairman to make him justify their joining by sidelining the party forum. He also criticised the party secretary general for not taking oath and questioned whether he violated the decision of the party acting chairman. Two standing committee members apparently aggrieved with the decision declined to make any comment. They advised this correspondent to contact the party secretary general in this regard. Another standing committee member said they were embarrassed by the oath-taking by the lawmakers-elect, while the party secretary general refrained from doing so. It would have been better for the party if the acting chairman had worked towards taking a unanimous decision over joining Parliament, he observed. The decision was taken by party acting chairman Tarique Rahman. We do not know anything about it, said BNP vice-chairman Maj. (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed. He also said the frequent changes in the party decision in line with the politics of compromise would take the party backwards. BNP vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, however, said that the decision to join Parliament by the party lawmakers-elect was taken by the party acting chairman on strategic grounds. Its true that the decision to join Parliament has frustrated some leaders and activists. But the party regained its position through the decision of party secretary general not to join it, he added. We want to watch the attitude of the government. If necessary, it will not take time for our lawmakers to resign, he said. The BNP and its allies in both the 20-Party Alliance and Jatiya Oikyafront took part in the December 30 parliamentary election, where the BNP bagged only six seats and Ganaforum two. The Oikyafront turned down the election results, alleging massive vote robbery and decided not to join Parliament. The BNP, which had expelled its lawmaker-elect Zahidur Rahman Zahid of the Thakurgaon-2 constituency, finally agreed join Parliament. Four other lawmakers-elect of the party took oath in April 29, the late date for taking oath as Member of Parliament. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who was elected from the Bogura-6 constituency, however, refrained from taking oath, saying it was part of the party decision on strategic grounsd. Parliament declared his constituency vacant the following day.