Speaker says MPs may honour chair according to religious practices

A 2006 rule change takes centrestage after lawmakers debate over parliamentary etiquette

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has ruled that members of parliament may show respect to the speaker’s chair, or the presiding chair, according to their respective religious practices.

Delivering the ruling at the start of Thursday’s parliamentary sitting, he said the word “bowing” had been removed from the Rules of Procedure through an amendment in 2006.

The decision came after several days of discussion and criticism in parliament over the issue.

The speaker said Rule 267(1) of the Rules of Procedure says, during a sitting of parliament, a member shall show respect to the chair when entering or leaving the House and when taking or leaving his or her seat.

He noted that the rule previously contained the word “bowing”, but it was amended in 2006.

He said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Rules of Procedure of the Eighth Parliament submitted a report on Sept 20, 2006, which was adopted by parliament on Sep 26 that year.

Addressing MPs, he said: “Since the word bowing has been removed, [MPs] may show respect to the speaker’s chair or the presiding chair according to their religious practices.”

The issue was first raised on Monday by Jamaat-e-Islami MP Mujibur Rahman, who objected to bowing towards the speaker’s chair on religious grounds.

On Wednesday, BNP MP Zainul Abdin Farroque said confusion remained among lawmakers and sought clear guidance under the Rules of Procedure.