Walkout as Bangla parliament honours Sheikh Mujib

The parliament in Bangladesh declared the country's founder-president Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman as the constitutionally recognised 'Father of the Nation' amid a pandemonium in the house overnight, the state-run radio reported on Wednesday.

The uproar was triggered by noisy protests and a stormy walkout by the main opposition.

The declaration was made in a ruling announced by Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury during a late night session on Tuesday which was marred by chaos as some 70 opposition lawmakers from the former ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party rose from their seats, hurled abuses, and tore copies of the bills tabled in the house.

BNP sources said the party was considering an indefinite boycott of parliament till Chowdhury overturned his decision or allowed the opposition to speak against the ruling inside the house.

The disorderly scenes were preceded by remarks by Chowdhury that the BNP lawmakers, who had made disparaging comments on Sheikh Mujib, during a debate had violated the country's constitution.

''I believe any dishonour to Mujib is a violation of the constitution because the articles of the constitution which honoured him as the Father of the Nation are still in force,'' Chowdhury said.

The ruling Awami League welcomed Chowdhury's decision, terming it historic. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a brief speech, accused the BNP of undermining parliament through rowdy behaviour.

''The nation will be ashamed to see their representatives behave in such unbecoming manner,'' Hasina, Mujib's daughter, said.

Witnesses said the uproar held up normal parliamentary business for almost two hours. The BNP lawmakers, the largest opposition group, claimed Sheikh Mujib did not have any constitutional position and the chair was misinterpreting the constitution.

The opposition walked out of the house shouting ''Down with the speaker'' as Chowdhury refused to allow any further discussion on Mujib's constitutional status. BNP lawmakers were seen demonstrating in the parliament lobby after their second walkout in less than two hours.

Sheikh Mujib led the struggle for independence from Pakistan that culminated in the 1971 independence war. Four years later, he was toppled and murdered along with most of his close family members in a right-wing coup, led by radical Muslim army officers who disbanded his secular regime.

UNI