MPs can show respect to Speaker through religious customs

The members of parliament (MP) can show respect to the Speaker’s chair in line with their respective religious customs, said Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Thursday.

The lawmakers are not required to “bow” before the Speaker at the parliament, as the provision in this regard was dropped from the parliament’s code of conduct back in 2006, the speaker told the parliament.

The current Code of Conduct requires lawmakers to show respect to the Speaker or President of the parliament when entering or leaving the House. However, it does not specify the manner of showing respect.

Therefore, the lawmakers are free to use their own respective religious customs for showing respect to the Speaker, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad informed the parliament.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mojibur Rahman objected to the requirement of “bowing” before the Speaker to show him respect. There was a provision requiring MPs to bow, but the provision was later dropped, Mojibur Rahman told the parliament.

At the time, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said he would announce a decision after studying the issue.

The next day, ruling party lawmaker Zainul Abedin Farroque also requested the Speaker to resolve the matter.