Debate in parliament over keeping expelled Jamaat MP in committee

Debate has taken place in parliament over the membership of GM Nazrul Islam, the expelled MP of Satkhira-4 constituency from Jamaat, in a parliamentary standing committee. Although his name was proposed as a member of the parliamentary committee related to government assurances, it was later dropped.

At the parliament sitting, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, BNP parliament member of Noakhali-1 constituency, was made the chairman of this committee which was passed by voice vote on the proposal of Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Monday. In the first proposal, along with Mahbubul Alam and Nurunnisa Siddiqua from the opposition, the name of GM Nazrul Islam was also included in the 10-member committee, which was passed by voice vote.

Thereafter opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman took the floor and raised the question whether the name of GM Nazrul Islam came from the opposition quota. In reply Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said he was not made a member from the opposition quota; it was done from the consideration that every member gets to be in at least one committee.

At this stage Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal, who was in the chair of the Speaker of parliament, told the Chief Whip that Nazrul Islam was earlier in multiple standing committees. He was dropped at the request of the opposition but was later kept again in this committee, for which the question has arisen.

Then the Chief Whip said as long as the membership does not go, he will keep all members in committees. GM Nazrul Islam has been kept in this committee from the calculation that the interest of the opposition may be harmed. The Chief Whip further said he wants all members to get the opportunity to contribute. The activities of the assurances committee are not very many—perhaps once or twice a year, even once or twice in five years it may sit. He commented that as long as his membership is not cancelled, he can be kept as a member.

However, officials of the law branch of parliament have said that according to the Rules of Procedure (248) it is mandatory for every parliamentary standing committee to sit in a meeting at least once every month.

Immediately after the Chief Whip’s speech Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed took the floor. He said there is no scope for confusion here—until the membership goes, a member has to be kept in one or another committee, that is why he has been kept in this committee.

At that time the Home Minister mentioned giving free advice to the opposition and said if someone is expelled from the party, the parliament membership does not become vacant according to the constitution. Article 70 of the constitution does not become effective unless one resigns on one’s own; it will become effective only if one resigns from the party.

Salahuddin Ahmed further said if they want to make Nazrul Islam’s membership vacant, they will have to bring the allegation of not voting in favour of the party in the presidential election against him, that is the allegation of floor crossing—then the membership may be cancelled.

In reply opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman said, “There is a saying in the village that to take revenge on a weak person he is made to contest the member election. The Home Minister sometimes gives us such advice, we enjoy it. I was saying that day, if he is present the parliament becomes lively—whether positive or negative, something happens.”

The opposition leader further said there is no scope to speak of floor crossing against someone who has been expelled from the party. He has been expelled from the party, so the allegation of violating the party’s decision cannot be given against him.

Later the committee was reconstituted by dropping the name of GM Nazrul Islam from the committee.