The inaugural session of the 13th National Parliament descended into chaos on Thursday as opposition lawmakers staged a dramatic walkout in protest of President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s scheduled address.
The tension was immediate from the moment the President arrived in the House to deliver the constitutionally mandated speech marking the start of the session.
As the President entered the chamber, opposition MPs stood in silent protest, brandishing red cards emblazoned with the slogan, "No betrayal with July."
While members of the ruling party and the Leader of the House stood to offer the customary welcome, the opposition benches remained defiantly seated.
The atmosphere grew further strained during the playing of the national anthem. While the ruling party members stood in respect, a faction of MPs from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami refused to rise.
According to reports from the floor, LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and parliamentary officials gestured to the members, reminding them of the protocol regarding the national anthem.
Although some lawmakers eventually rose to their feet following the prompts, others remained seated throughout the anthem.
As President Shahabuddin began his formal address, the protest escalated.
Opposition members began chanting slogans inside the chamber, their voices rising above the proceedings, before collectively walking out of the parliament.
This act of defiance marks a volatile start to the new parliamentary term.
The protest underscores deep-seated political divisions following the February 12 general election, as the new opposition seeks to signal its rejection of the administration's current mandate.
The walkout follows a period of heightened scrutiny regarding the President's role and the political climate surrounding the events of last July.
As of now, neither the presidency nor the Speaker of the House has issued a formal statement regarding the disruption, though the session proceeded following the opposition's departure.
With Inputs from UNB
