Protesting Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar's refusal to hold discussion on what they said were crucial issues the main opposition Awami League (AL) staged a 5-minute walkout and accused Sircar of trying to protect the government.

In reply, Sircar criticised the AL lawmakers for walking out after speaking on points of order and advised them to place their demands to the Business Advisory Committee that fixes the schedules of parliament's sessions. Yesterday was the last of the 11 working days of the 14th session of the Jatiya Sangsad that began on October 28.

After the walkout, State Minister for Home Lutfuzzaman Babar in a statement said the opposition and a few non-government organisations (NGOs) are propagandising against the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) alleging human rights violations by it, as they do not like its huge success and popularity.

OPPOSITIONS' DEMAND
The lawmakers of AL and Jatiya Party yesterday submitted a total of 116 notices demanding the discussions.

The topics on which discussions were demanded include the killings in alleged 'crossfire' between criminals and Rab men, the judicial probe report into the August 21 grenade attacks, price hike of essentials, law and order situation, Monga and tampering with certificate by a High Court judge.

But the Speaker rejected all the notices saying the issues are old and many of the notices not sufficiently backed up with papers and termed some of them sub judice.

Taking the floor on point of order after the Speaker's refusal of their demands, AL lawmaker Mohammad Nasim said, "The ruling coalition wants to conceal their weaknesses in these cases and so are avoiding any discussion on them."

Addressing Sircar, he said, "You, being the Speaker, should not defend the ruling party this way."

Nasim regretted that although he had given specific notices on all these issues for discussion in the House, as per the advice of the Speaker, the discussions could not take place.

On the Rab crossfire, he said it was beyond imagination that people could be killed in the hands of a particular group every day without any trial in a court of law.

The AL members then staged a 5-minute walkout of the House in protest of the wholesale rejection of their demands.

BABAR'S STATEMENT
Babar in his statement touched issues including activities of the Rab, Bangla Bhai and his cadres, and investigation into the August 21 grenade attacks on an AL rally.

He assured the House that steps were taken to catch the so-called Jagrata Musilm Janata men led by Bangla Bhai, adding but until now they could not be traced.

"Police and the Rab are doing quite well in fighting violence with all-out support of the people, and in future activities of the forces will be increased," said the state minister.

Brushing aside the allegation of killing by the Rab in the name of crossfire, Babar said they [Rab] did not kill any one. The dreaded terrorists were killed only when their accomplices attacked on the elite anti-crime force to snatch them, he claimed. He also said the masses are happy with the deaths of the hardened criminals.

Amidst cheering and thumbing of desks by Treasury bench lawmakers, Babar said, "There was violence in the country… But, it has decreased now; and there will be no violence here, as the present government's one of the prime electoral pledges was to root out violence".

He also said, "Not a single innocent person has been harassed by the Rab till now," adding the force has never been used politically.

He pointed to some incidents where criminals who went for ruling party leaders were arrested by the Rab and actions were taken as per law.

On the grenade attacks, Babar said the investigation into the incident has not been completed. He accused the main opposition for not co-operating with the government in probing the crime.