Speaker rules out discussion on ‘dark side’ of political leader’s life

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has ordered the removal from the official proceedings of a statement made in the National Parliament about Maulana Mamunul Haque, Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. He said he does not want the ‘dark side’ of any political leader’s personal life to be discussed in parliament.

During the general discussion on the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, BNP MP Khandaker Abu Ashfaq from Dhaka-1 raised an incident involving Mamunul Haque that was widely discussed in 2021 on Thursday. At one point in his speech, he sought an explanation of that incident and brought up the matter in the House.

The Speaker advised him not to bring irrelevant issues into discussion and said that making allegations against someone who is not present in the House to respond is not consistent with parliamentary norms.

When the issue of mut’ah marriage was brought up, the Speaker said, “Why are you asking me about mut’ah marriage? Do I look like an expert on these matters? It is better not to discuss these in parliament.”

Later, Opposition Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stood on a point of order and protested the information raised. He claimed that the information given in parliament about Mamunul Haque was not correct and the relevant statement should be removed from the proceedings.

At that time, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said that statements contrary to parliamentary rules and decency can be removed from the proceedings.

On the other hand, Jamaat MP Mujibur Rahman presented the religious position on mut’ah marriage and said that although it was once practiced in Islamic history, it is now prohibited.

After listening to all sides, the Speaker said that this matter regarding Maulana Mamunul Haque does not need to come into the parliamentary proceedings.

He further said, “He has still not clarified his position. I do not want the dark side of a political leader’s life to be discussed here.”
The Speaker then ordered the removal of the relevant statement from the parliamentary proceedings.

In the 13th national parliamentary election, Mamunul Haque contested from Dhaka-13 and was defeated, but his party won two seats in parliament. Due to the party’s representation in the House, various political positions of the party and its leaders have recently come under discussion.