The first session of the 13th National Parliament in Bangladesh witnessed strong protests from opposition lawmakers during the President’s speech, leading to a walkout from the chamber.
Mohammad Shahabuddin began delivering his address at around 3:40 PM on Thursday (March 12). Soon after the speech started, opposition members began protesting loudly, creating an unusual situation inside the parliament.
Opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman, who is also the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, was among the first to raise objections, repeatedly shouting in protest during the speech.
Earlier, as the President’s arrival in parliament was announced, opposition lawmakers began demonstrating while holding placards. However, when the national anthem started, the members stood up and observed silence as per parliamentary protocol.
After the anthem ended and the President started his speech, opposition MPs resumed their protest by chanting slogans and banging desks inside the chamber. Despite the disruption, President Shahabuddin continued delivering his address.
During the disturbance, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed urged the opposition members to remain calm. He reminded them that the President’s address at the first session of parliament is a constitutional obligation and part of parliamentary tradition.
The Speaker requested lawmakers not to create a negative precedent and asked them to respect the constitutional process of the parliament session.
