The minister's derision followed a demand by Awami League (AL) lawmakers for the government to take immediate steps to hold the hepatitis infection in check. They also asked again to place the report of the judicial inquiry commission into the August 21 grenade attacks before the House and to hold a discussion on it.

In response, Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed said the opposition cannot find any point of criticism against the government, which is running the country smoothly. "So, they are bringing non-issues like jaundice in parliament," a remark that fuelled a noisy protest from the opposition bench.

Amidst the protests, Hafizuddin continued, "The Awami League lawmakers tried to make issues of the law and order situation and prices of essentials, but failed. Now they are bringing the jaundice of Dhaka University students in the House." He claimed the law and order is just fine and prices of essentials are quite under control at the moment.

On the grenade attacks, he said, "That is an old issue. It happened in August and now, in December, they are demanding a discussion on it!"

The main opposition members, without mikes, shouted to the Speaker asking him to expunge the minister's speech, as the rules of procedure do not allow it as a point of order.

It was AL lawmaker AKM Jahangir Hossain, who, in a point of order, told the House that over 500 DU students have been suffering from jaundice and the figure is increasing by the day.

"Though the disease is spreading like an epidemic the authorities are yet to identify its cause," he said adding that the university medical centre is too small to tackle the situation. He demanded the government to establish a 100-bed hospital for the DU furnished with modern diagnostic facilities.

Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar allowed the point and urged the health and education ministers to take necessary steps.

The members in the House yesterday were mostly busy talking to each other and paid little attention to the question-answer session, except during the queries to Communications Minister Nazmul Huda about dilapidated roads in various constituencies.

All the front-bench members except Abdur Razzak of the main opposition were absent yesterday.

AL'S COMPLAIN
Opposition Chief Whip Abdus Shahid yesterday complained in the House that three AL lawmakers nominated by the party were not co-opted as agreed in parliamentary standing committees on different ministries.

"Alauddin Ahmed, Bir Bahadur and Dabirul Islam were not included in the standing committees on education, Chittagong Hill Tracts and religion ministries respectively, as recommended by our party," Shahid said. He asked the Speaker to take necessary steps to include them in the committees immediately.

In reply, the Speaker asked Shahid to place the matter to him in writing and said if there is any irregularity it would be corrected.