Speaking from Scripts Prohibited in Parliament: Speaker

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has reminded Members of Parliament (MPs) that reading directly from written scripts during sessions is against parliamentary tradition. He urged lawmakers to rely on brief notes and address the House directly to maintain the decorum of the assembly.

The Speaker's directive came during the Sunday session on March 15, following the speeches of Jamaat-e-Islami MP Masud bin Sayedee and Islami Andolan MP Oli Ullah. Both MPs were observed reading their entire contributions during the discussion on the President’s speech.

"Reading an entire speech from paper is not permitted in the House," the Speaker noted. "While MPs may refer to notes for key points, they must speak directly to the Parliament. This is our established custom."

The Speaker further clarified that under the Rules of Procedure, any member wishing to read a written speech must obtain prior permission from the Chair. He called on all members to cultivate the habit of spontaneous speaking to uphold parliamentary standards.

Earlier in the session, Pirojpur-1 MP Masud Bin Sayedee pledged to honor the mandate of his constituents. He committed to local development and national justice, citing the ideals of his father, Delwar Hossain Sayedee. In his address, he paid tribute to the martyrs of the Language Movement, the Liberation War, and the July-August 2024 mass uprising.

Sayedee called for "zero tolerance" against corruption and highlighted alleged irregularities totaling ৳52,000 crore within the Roads and Highways Department over the last 15 years. He also advocated for the independence of the judiciary and education sectors, while urging officials to forego luxuries like duty-free cars.

Addressing current political tensions, Sayedee noted public confusion regarding the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) absence from the Constitution Reform Council. He questioned whether the BNP would eventually support reforms aligned with the spirit of the 2024 uprising. He also critiqued a previous statement by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed regarding the "emotions" of July, asserting that the July uprising is a "fundamental reality" that must not be belittled.