BNP seeks removal of health minister for ‘failure in COVID-19 situation’

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) MP Harunur Rashid on Tuesday walked out for the first time from 11th parliament after taking part in the current budget session. Before walking out, he demanded removal of the health minister for his failure in handling the novel coronavirus situation in the country.

At the outset of his speech, Harunur Rashid urged the deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah to allow him to speak for more than 12 minutes.

The BNP lawmaker began his speech saying "inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (a Qur'anic phrase recited by Muslims upon hearing news of someone's death).

Deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah cut him short asking why he began in such a manner. MP Harunur Rashid said he would explain at the end of his speech. Fazle Rabbi Miah responded, “I’ve never seen anyone beginning his speech in this way in my seven terms as a parliamentarian. You must explain.”

The BNP MP responded, “The director general of the Directorate General of Health Services has apprehended that the country won’t be free from coronavirus infection for two to three years. That means this coronavirus is a big challenge for us. We need a national consensus to face this.”

The lawsuits filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman have to be withdrawn for that national consensus, he added.

Hearing this, the ruling party lawmakers started a commotion in parliament.

Harunur Rashid said, “There’s no use in creating a commotion. People are getting the message (through this) that you are depriving us from presenting the true information.”

At this stage the microphone of Harunur Rashid was switched off as his time was over. But he continued without the microphone while the other MPs continued their uproar.

Deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah said, “I’m sorry for the commotion. But as a deputy speaker (of the House) I cannot take the names of two persons you mentioned as both of them are convicts. How can I speak about the convicted persons at parliament!”

BNP MP Harunur Rashid said the last Jatiya Sangsad election was questionable. The deputy speaker said this will also be expunged from the proceedings.

After this the microphone of the BNP lawmaker was switched on. He said, “You have extended the time for me after the leader of the House (prime minister) asked you. Being the speaker, you have interrupted my speech. This is unfortunate and that is why I’m walking out.”

Then, addressing the ruling party MPs, speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah said, “I am enough to answer to the questions of Harunur Rashid. I’ll not allow anything unparliamentary. I would interrupt even if he were a ruling party MP.”

Before walking out, addressing the prime minister, Harunur Rashid said, “The ruling party MPs and BMA (Bangladesh Medical Association) members are all holding the health ministry, the health directorate responsible for people’s death in coronavirus. Has the health minister visited any COVID-19 hospital in this pandemic? The health directorate DG did not respond to phone calls and messages for at least 10 days. Please, remove the health minister for his failure. Give charge to someone who has a sense of responsibility.”

The BNP lawmaker said that the people who are allegedly involved with extortion, share market scams have been controlling everything in the country.

Without mentioning any name, Harunur Rashid said the prime minister announced zero tolerance against corruption, but there is an MP in the parliament who is a top drug smuggler. How could he become an MP? How was his wife made an MP? They could not have been MPs without the government’s nod.

Harunur Rashid also said, IGP Benazir Ahmed has been preaching about honesty. He is in top posts for the last 10 years. Those who destroyed people’s rights in the last general election, don’t you think those responsible will have to account for this?

It is not possible to form an honest administration with the current police force. The police has become slaves of Awami League, the BNP MP added.