Ershad says only he, not his wife, can apologise for calling Bangladesh’s women leaders ‘showpieces’

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has said only he has the right to apologise for his comment in which he called Bangladesh’s women leaders ‘showpieces’.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 6 July 2015, 04:52 PM
Updated : 6 July 2015, 05:05 PM

His wife and the Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad has apologised in Parliament for the derogatory comment.
 
In last week’s budget discussion, the former military strongman said: “We repeatedly say that our prime minister, speaker, deputy leader of the house, opposition leader are all women. But they are showpieces. It is not the same outside.”
 
Women MPs present there protested against the remark and Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury later expunged it from Parliament proceedings.
 
Ershad on Monday urged the Speaker to expunge his wife’s apology as well.
 
“We are all members of Parliament. We warrant similar respect,” he said in an unscheduled discussion. “Only I have the authority to apologise for my mistake.”
 
He said Raushon’s apology, offered during the budget discussion, was ‘beyond her jurisdiction’.
 

File Photo

Raushon was not present in Parliament on Monday.
“You (the speaker) deleted my comment after I had withdrawn it,” Ershad said. “I request you to expunge the remark of another MP who apologised for my comment.”
But the speaker did not say anything about the matter.
The prime minister’s special envoy clarified his previous comment, saying he meant the women MPs, particularly those from reserved seats, were subjected to discrimination.
“There cannot be discrimination in this Parliament,” he continued. “Not everyone gets equal allocations. Let us provide equal facilities to all.”
Many, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, present at the session found his comment amusing.
They were seen smiling and thumping the table supporting his demand for equal allocations.