152 MPs resigned since 1974
Before Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj, some 152 lawmakers voluntarily resigned from parliament on different grounds since 1974.
All but two MP's, belonging to Awami League, Jatiya Party, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, resigned after restoration of the country's democracy in 1990.
Mainul Hosein, elected lawmaker in 1973 from Bhandaria as a member of Awami League, resigned in May, 1974.
It was in protest of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's initiative to form a “one-party system of government through the Fourth Amendment to the constitution,” said sources at the parliament secretariat.
General MAG Osmani also resigned that month on the same grounds, added the source.
On December 28, 1994, some 147 opposition lawmakers of Awami League, Jatiya Party and Jamaat-e-Islami resigned from parliament to press home their demand for the caretaker government system.
Next was Kader Siddiqui who resigned from the seventh parliament after being expelled from the then ruling Awami League in 1999. He later formed Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League.
The last two were BNP lawmakers Major (retd) Abdul Mannan and Mahi B Chowdhury who resigned from parliament and the then ruling BNP on March 10, 2004.
The duo then joined the alternative political party of former president Badruddoza Chowdhury protesting against, what they said, serious failures of the coalition government.
Currently secretary general of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Abdul Mannan was elected from the then Dhaka-10 constituency (Ramna-Tejgaon) and Badruddoza's son Mahi B Chowdhury from Munshiganj-1 constituency (Srinagar).
Mannan, in his resignation letter, wrote, “Life has become very difficult. It does not seem that there is any government. I could not do anything for the people in such a situation.
“Parliament is ineffective. I do not find any reason to stay in. I resigned to join alternative politics.”
Echoing his voice, Mahi had written, “I can not take the responsibility for corruption and crime of the BNP. There was no environment in the BNP where I can express my views.”
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