Remarks on women MPs’ attire, Opposition leaders’ family spark uproar in parliament

The Opposition chief whip says it crosses parliamentary norms and violated personal and religious freedoms

Parliament had descended into disorder after BNP lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury commented about the attire of Opposition women MPs.

The comments, which also referred to the wife of Deputy Leader of the Opposition Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, triggered strong protests during the budget session on Sunday.

During the budget discussion, Monirul recounted an incident from 2001, of a gathering where Jamaat leader Taher was attending with his wife.

“After entering, I saw something moving around,” Monirul said.

“I asked, ‘Taher bhai, where is your wife?’ He replied, ‘Here she is.’ Then I said, ‘How am I supposed to know you haven’t brought a different one?’”

He later referred to female members of the Opposition, many of whom cover their faces due to religious choices.

“Our sisters have come to this House as MPs. They are all talented. I have listened to two of them speak. They have potential and a future, and they are educated. But I could not understand who you are. You may be able to see us from your side, but if we look from our side and cannot understand what is there, that is not right.”

The remarks prompted immediate protests from Opposition lawmakers, who stood up from their seats.

As tensions rose, the deputy speaker intervened, saying: “Honourable member, personal freedom should not be a subject of discussion.”

Monirul then said, “I did not say anything about anyone. I was only telling a story from the past. I did not belittle anyone. If anyone feels offended, then I apologise.”

The deputy speaker later addressed the House, saying: “All of us are elected members of parliament. If we fail to maintain our dignity and decorum before the nation and the people who elected us, we will have reason to be ashamed.”

After a break, the issue was raised again by opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Nahid Islam.

Thanking the deputy speaker for expunging parts of Monirul’s remarks, Nahid said: “What he said today went beyond parliamentary norms and the limits of our constitutional rights.”

“First, he made disparaging remarks about the wife of the deputy leader of the opposition. He may have a personal relationship or personal history with him. But bringing that into parliament and making such remarks is an unforgivable offence.”

“The comments made about the clothing of our female members of parliament and their religious freedom are also unforgivable. Every individual in a democratic state has freedom of religion and freedom of dress. As a member of parliament, he made remarks that violated those freedoms.”