Dhaka: Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has reminded members of parliament that delivering speeches by reading directly from written scripts is not permissible within the House. He emphasized the importance of MPs developing the habit of speaking with only brief notes if necessary.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Speaker made these remarks in parliament while addressing MPs Masood Sayeedi of Jamaat-e-Islami and Oli Ullah of Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Both MPs had delivered their speeches by reading from prepared texts during the discussion on the President’s address. Addressing Masood Sayeedi, the speaker stated, “With due respect, I would like to draw your attention that reading directly from a written text is not allowed in Parliament. You may keep notes, glance at them occasionally and then address the House. That is the parliamentary convention and what we expect from members.”
The Speaker reiterated a similar message to Oli Ullah, noting that he had followed the same approach as Masood Sayeedi. “This is not allowed in Parliament. You should practice delivering speeches without reading from scripts. This is the established parliamentary practice and should be followed by all members,” he added.
The Rules of Procedure of Parliament require that members obtain prior permission from the Speaker before reading out a written speech. Masood Sayeedi, representing the Pirojpur-1 constituency, committed to working for the development of his constituency and upholding the ideals of his father, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi. Sayeedi also emphasized the need for independence in the education and judiciary sectors and advocated for a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against corruption.
Referring to a report by Transparency International Bangladesh, Masood Sayeedi claimed that approximately Tk 52,000 crore had been misappropriated in the Roads and Highways Department over the past 15 years. He further called for institutionalizing a culture where MPs refrain from accepting government privileges, including duty-free vehicles.