Chief Whip urges trust, unity for stronger democracy.
Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad, Md. Nurul Islam, today said that democracy is fundamentally a matter of trust, emphasizing that both the government and the opposition must have confidence in each other.
“We’ll trust the opposition, and the opposition will also trust us,” he said while briefing reporters at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban following the oath-taking ceremony of two newly elected Members of Parliament Md. Rezaul Karim Badsha and Md. Mahmudul Haque Rubel.
Referring to remarks made by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman after the swearing-in ceremony, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister urged all concerned present there including lawmakers to seek assistance from the administration or inform him directly if any problem arises, but strictly warned against taking the law into their own hands.
He said the Prime Minister also reminded the MPs that they were elected to serve the people and ensure their welfare. “You must discharge your duties both inside and outside parliament to establish democracy. We want to build a truly welfare-oriented and humane state. In building such a state, you are my tools and hands,” the Chief Whip quoted the Prime Minister as saying.
On the energy situation, Nurul Islam said the government has provided an additional subsidy of Tk 36,000 crore to address the energy crisis. He alleged that Tk 27 lakh crore had been siphoned off from the country during the previous “autocratic regime,” adding that the current government aims to utilize national resources for public welfare instead of capital flight.
Highlighting parliamentary procedures, the Chief Whip said a joint special committee comprising both treasury and opposition members reviewed 133 ordinances. After thorough scrutiny, it was decided that 16 ordinances require amendments and will be placed as bills later, while other ordinances have already been passed by parliament within just five days.
He termed the passage of 117 bills in five days as a “record” and “unprecedented” in Bangladesh’s history, noting that he, along with officials of the Parliament Secretariat and BG Press, worked tirelessly to accomplish the task.
Expressing disappointment over a recent walkout by opposition members, he acknowledged that walkouts are part of democratic practice and that the opposition has the right to stage such protest, said a press release.
The Chief Whip also said the government plans to enrich the “July Museum” by incorporating historical events such as the 1971 Liberation War, the 1975 famine, the BAKSAL period, the 1990 mass uprising, and the 2024 mass uprising.
He stressed that ministerial involvement would expedite the work, describing the initiative as a “living institution” rather than a conventional museum.
