Derogatory comment on Jahanara Imam

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury switched off the microphone of BNP MP Syeda Ashifa Ashrafi Papia when she started making derogatory remarks on the late Jahanara Imam, the woman who galvanised the movement for trials of 1971 ‘war criminals

Imam is widely respected as the 'Shaheed Janani" (Matyr's mother) who started the movement for war crimes trials in the 1990s.

She was the founder of the ‘Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Commitee’ (Committee for elimination of Killers and Collaborators). It was through this movement that she became popular as ‘Shaheed Janani’, who is the mother of guerrilla fighter Shafi Imam Rumi, a martyr in Bangladesh’s brutal birth in 1971.

“She served the cause of Pakistan. She formed the Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee. She used to host Ayna programme,” Papia told Parliament during discussions on the budget.

Ruling coalition lawmakers rose in furious protests against Papia's remarks.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present in the House.

The Speaker turned off Papia’s microphone at this time.

Later Papia’s mike was turned off again when she started attacking the Ganajagaran Mancha.

“Please stay on track, speak on the budget,” the Speaker reminded her.

She published a diary titled Ekattorer Dinguli (The Days of '71), detailing events between March and December 1971, a work that many historians consider to be a living document on the nation’s War of Independence from Pakistan.

The diary combines issues of huge political importance with small domestic concerns.

Ganajagaran Mancha, which has been demanding execution for war criminals, also portrayed the ‘Shaheed Janani’ as their inspiration. Her photograph, blown up into a banner, presided over the Shahbagh protests that started on Feb 5 this year.

Imam, despite suffering from terminal mouth cancer, fronted a major campaign to bring the war criminals to justice in 1992, and has gone on being a national symbol of justice and wisdom.

She died on Jun 26, 1994 while undergoing treatment at a US hospital.

Opposition MP Papia has often attracted attention by her controversial outpourings in Parliament.