NCP’s Hannan Masud clarifies opposition’s decision to remain seated during national anthem

He says lawmakers did not hear the national anthem while protesting due to faulty speakers

Abdul Hannan Masud, an MP of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has defended the Opposition members of parliament not rising while the national anthem was playing when the 13th parliament convened for the maiden session.

In a Facebook post on Friday morning, the NCP senior joint chief coordinator said opposition MPs were protesting when President Mohammed Shahabuddin entered the parliament on Thursday.

According to him, ruling party lawmakers stood up to greet the president while opposition members stayed seated and continued their protest.

“The national anthem started playing as the president entered parliament. The protesting opposition MPs did not realise it because they were busy protesting and there was a sound issue with the speakers,” he wrote.

Hannan said fellow NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah noticed the anthem playing and informed others.

“Once they realised it, opposition MPs immediately stood up and remained standing until the anthem ended,” he added.

The first sitting of the 13th parliament had scheduled an address by President Shahabuddin, in keeping with parliamentary tradition.

Members of the opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami had been protesting his address, calling him an “ally of fascists”.

When the president entered the parliament, some opposition MPs stayed seated as part of their protest.

Parliamentary officials, along with Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, urged lawmakers to stand in respect for the anthem while it played on the bugle.

Masud wrote that the matter stemmed from a “misunderstanding”, and called for “accurate information to help build a united Bangladesh”.