Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 746 Mon. July 03, 2006  
   
Front Page


AL walks out of JS protesting killings, Babar's comment


Awami League (AL) lawmakers yesterday walked out of the House twice -- first protesting the killings of one party activist and a policeman during the opposition enforced programme, and then objecting to a statement of the state minister for home affairs on the killings.

Before the walkout, the AL lawmakers accused the government of killing the opposition activist and the policeman during the blockade and demanded a discussion on it. But the acting speaker rejected the demand.

The lawmakers returned to the House after the Magrib break only to walk out again when State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar blamed the AL for killing the policeman.

"Demonstrators have killed the police officer," Babar told the House. He said the leader of the opposition on June 26 directed her party activists to avenge police actions. "The police officer was killed when hit by stones thrown by them (opposition activists)," he said.

"The leader of the opposition should understand that her instigation can create a dangerous situation in the country. I urge the leader of the opposition to withdraw her directives," Babar said amid protests by the AL lawmakers.

As the state minister continued, the AL lawmakers walked out of the House for the second time.

"How could the state minister be sure without postmortem that the police officer was killed by stones thrown by the opposition activists," AL lawmaker Abdur Razzak told a press briefing after the walkout. "The minister made a false statement in the House."

AL lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim demanded formation of a parliamentary probe body on the killings

Earlier, the AL lawmakers talking on point of order demanded discussion on yesterday's killings.

"The government is pushing the opposition towards confrontation by attacking every programme (of the opposition)," AL lawmaker Mohammad Nasim said.

Responding to the AL lawmakers, BNP lawmaker KM Obaidur Rahman also speaking on a point of order blamed the opposition for enforcing unconstitutional programmes like blockade. "The government will be strict in future if anyone attempts to create anarchy in the name of movement," he warned.