People's expectations from current parliament very high: Acting Speaker

Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) Acting Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal has said the people's expectations from the current parliament are very high. The eyes of 36 crore people of the country are fixed on the proceedings of the parliament.

People want MPs to fulfil their expectations through intellectual discussions, constructive criticism and reasoned debates, he said.

Referring to the current parliament as the "Parliament of the Oppressed," he said the majority of its members have previously faced the gallows, enforced disappearances, torture, exile or imprisonment. Nearly 99 percent of the 350 MPs have undergone such experiences, making it an exceptional parliament not only in Bangladesh's history but also in the world.

He made these remarks in a recent interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

Kaiser Kamal said, "You should know that every activity of this parliament is being watched by farmers, labourers and working people in the villages through their mobile phones. That is, this parliament represents 18 crore people, and the eyes of 36 crore people are fixed on it. The elected MPs will fulfil people's expectations through intellectual discussions, constructive criticism and reasoned debates."

"That is what we, as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, expect," he added.

The Acting Speaker said, "Our role in parliament has always been to perform our duties with justice and impartiality. Impartiality and justice are the principles I hold most dear. As long as I have the opportunity to preside over this parliament, I will strive to uphold my integrity and utmost neutrality."

He said the government and the opposition must play responsible roles to institutionalise democracy.

"Our forefathers sacrificed their lives in the great Liberation War to liberate the country. They fought to establish a democratic state system and to ensure equality, human rights, rule of law with human dignity and constitutional governance. The nation expects that both the ruling party and the opposition will now work shoulder to shoulder to institutionalise that democratic journey."

He said the centre of all state affairs is this great parliament. Every state has three organs—the judiciary, the legislature and the executive. Laws are passed by the legislature, enforced by the executive, and scrutinised by the judiciary. The parliament is at the centre of it all.

Kaiser Kamal said, "I believe that for Bangladesh's overall development and for political and democratic practice, the parliament should be the centre of everything. The ruling party is getting opportunities to speak here, and similarly, the opposition is getting ample opportunities for constructive criticism."

He said, "The beauty of democracy is that there are two sides. One side constructively criticises the other. The state benefits from this, and the people benefit. If we consider the House of Commons, or the British parliamentary democracy, the Australian Parliament, the Canadian Parliament, the Pakistani Parliament or the Indian Parliament, state policies are determined there through discussion and criticism."

Expressing hope that the parliament would become the centre of everything for the country's present and future, the Acting Speaker said, "The expectations of those who were martyred and injured in the July mass uprising will be fulfilled. Above all, the expectations of all people of this country—young and old—in building their nation will be fulfilled."