Khaleda leads walkout in protest; PM terms it stunt.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia yesterday traded broadsides in parliament over passage of a bill seeking to increase salaries and allowances of lawmakers, leading to a stormy walkout of the opposition.
In the face of strong opposition by BNP lawmakers, Hasina, also leader of the House, said their act is nothing but a stunt.
"There is a limit to stunt. They don't need salaries and allowances. They looted thousand crores of taka when they were in power," she said.
After the premier, Khaleda took floor and launched a blistering attack on the government for what she said was its failure to run the country. After that she led the opposition deputies in a stormy walkout.
"The country has come to a standstill. It seems there is no government here. The country cannot be run under the failed and incompetent government," said Khaleda, who appeared in the House after remaining absent for 19 consecutive days.
She asked the government to address first the present power, water and gas crises and check law and order slide.
"The golden sons of ruling party are engaged in grabbing markets, bus stands, rivers, canals and even graveyards. They established a reign of looting. Stop looting and repression," Khaleda said.
Citing the finance minister's remark terming the power outages a famine, Khaleda said Awami League means famine. "The country saw a famine in 1974."
She claimed the country was run properly during the past BNP government. "There was no crisis of power, water and gas. Huge development took place during 2001 to 2006. The ruling party fears we may come again to power. So, they are engaged in conspiracy with Fakhruddin and Moeen Uddin."
She also demanded trial of former chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and former army chief Moeen U Ahmed.
The opposition lawmakers staged the walkout around 9:20pm demanding withdrawal of the bill and did not return last night.
After their walkout, parliament passed the bill titled "The Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) (Amendment) Bill, 2010.
The premier again took the floor and blasted the opposition for the walkout and their stance against the bill. She said the opposition chief did not protest when the bill to increase salaries of the ministers was passed.
"It's because she enjoys the status of a minister. Now she is talking against the bill. It is a stunt," Hasina said.
She also blasted the past BNP government for the present crisis of power, water and gas saying her government is cleaning the seven years garbage of the past BNP and caretaker government regime.
On filing cases against Fakhruddin and Moeen, Hasina said the court is functioning independently and asked why Khaleda is not doing it.
