No one except me spoke in parliament on US trade deal: Rumeen Farhana

Independent MP Rumeen Farhana has alleged that the country is still experiencing a continuation of one-party rule despite political changes.

She made the remarks while speaking as a guest at the inauguration ceremony of an organisation named the International Jurists Forum for Human Rights at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall of the National Press Club on Tuesday (May 21).

The event was chaired by Shamim Haider Patwary, secretary general of the Jatiya Party.

Rumeen Farhana said Bangladesh had long witnessed one-party dominance and claimed the same trend still continued in a different form.

“Earlier, BNP and Jamaat were kept outside the political field and parliament was arranged unilaterally. Now Awami League and leftist parties are being excluded and parliament is being run in another way. This is all the same,” she said.

She added that she had raised the issue from the very first day she entered parliament, saying she still saw a one-party parliament.

Expressing frustration, the lawmaker said no other member of parliament besides her had raised questions over Bangladesh’s important trade agreement with the United States.

According to her, parliamentary rules require support from at least five lawmakers to submit a notice for discussion on a nationally important issue, but she could not find even five MPs willing to support the motion. As a result, she said, she had to speak on the issue through a point of order.

Rumeen Farhana also claimed that when she raised concerns about the spread of measles, the health minister discouraged her from speaking further on the matter, arguing that excessive discussion would create panic among the public.

Criticising the government over fuel shortages, she said drivers had waited overnight in long queues for fuel, but supplies suddenly became available once the government announced a price hike.

“Where were these fuels hidden for so long?” she asked, alleging that the public was being deceived.

She further said the government would not be able to conceal information to shield its activities, adding that people today are more aware and technologically connected.

“Everyone now has mobile phones and can instantly know what is happening around the world. There is no scope to survive by hiding information, nor is it possible to run a state in this way,” she added.