‘MPs sitting around me used abusive language’: Rumeen

Brahmanbaria-2 independent MP Rumeen Farhana today alleged that she was subjected to “abusive language” in the parliament yesterday.

“This does not fall within any parliamentary norms,” she said today in the House, while taking part in a discussion on the Armed Police Battalion Bill.

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Yesterday, ruling party MPs created an uproar while Rumeen was speaking on the Bank Resolution (Amendment) Bill.

“While speaking on the bill yesterday, the situation I faced made me feel that no dissenting voice can be raised in this parliament. The behaviour I witnessed in the House after my speech is not something one would expect in the parliament of a democratic country,” Rumeen said.

“If there was any counter-argument to my statement, it could have been made by standing up and speaking. It could have been delivered after I finished. But instead, MPs sitting around me used abusive language. This is not part of parliamentary norms,” she added.

At that point, ruling party members were seen making noise.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad gestured with his hand to stop the commotion.

“I stand for freedom of speech in this parliament. I hope neither ruling party nor opposition lawmakers will obstruct their counterparts while speaking. What happened yesterday has already happened; we must look to the future. I respect your sentiment,” the Speaker said.

Referring to the 2018 parliament, Rumeen said, “When I stood alone to speak for the BNP in the Awami League-led parliament, I faced a similarly disgraceful situation. If, even after bringing a government to power through votes at the cost of thousands of lives, there is no minimum change, then there is little point in the opposition merely sitting here to cast votes.”