JS discusses energy issues following opposition’s motion

The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Monday witnessed a heated discussion over the country’s worsening fuel, gas and energy crisis issue.

A debate also rocked the house over the inclusion of expelled Jamaat-e-Islami MP Gazi Nazrul Islam in a parliamentary standing committee.

The discussion on the energy situation took place following a notice moved under Rule 68 of the Rules of Procedure by Leader of the Opposition and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman.

In his notice, the opposition leader said that the acute shortage of fuel and gas is disrupting power generation, forcing industrial factories to shut down and creating the risk of rising unemployment.

He called upon the government to take effective measures to avert what he described as a potentially devastating impact on the national economy.

The issue triggered discussion and debate in the house. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and some other MPs from treasury and opposition benches also took part in the discussion.

 With energy shortages continuing to affect economic activity, the lawmakers stressed the importance of finding a sustainable solution rather than relying solely on short-term emergency measures.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader and the home minister engaged in a heated exchange on the issue of Gazi Nazrul Islam. The discussion began when Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said that Gazi Nazrul Islam had previously served on several parliamentary standing committees but was removed following a letter and request from the opposition leader.

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Taking the floor, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said that the opposition had sought clarification because Gazi Nazrul Islam had not been nominated from their quota for committee membership. He said the opposition had not proposed his inclusion and argued that, since Nazrul had been expelled from the party on ethical grounds, it would be appropriate and morally justified not to appoint him to a committee of the country’s highest legislative institution.

In response, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed referred to Article 70 of the Constitution and said Gazi Nazrul Islam had refrained from voting in the presidential election against the party’s decision.

He suggested that if the opposition leader sent a letter to the Speaker or the Election Commission invoking Article 70, Nazrul’s parliamentary seat could potentially become vacant.

The opposition leader, however, rejected the argument, saying there was no scope for the opposition to newly claim that Nazrul had violated the party’s decision through floor-crossing because he had already been expelled from the party.

He also argued that abstaining from voting did not constitute floor-crossing and therefore did not fall within the scope of Article 70.