Jamaat questions President’s right to address Parliament

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher on Wednesday said that President Mohammed Shahabuddin does not have the constitutional authority to address the National Parliament.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with opposition lawmakers at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Taher raised objections to the planned presidential address and questioned why the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was proceeding with the decision.

“The President does not have the right to deliver a speech in the parliamentary session. It is unclear why the BNP is moving ahead with this step,” he said.

Taher also spoke about the position of Deputy Speaker, saying that opposition parties discussed the matter during their meeting.

He added that a final decision would be announced once a formal proposal regarding the post is placed in parliament.

Earlier in the day, members of parliament from the 11-party opposition alliance held a meeting at the parliament building to coordinate their strategy for the upcoming parliamentary session.

The meeting was chaired by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman.

According to participants, the opposition lawmakers discussed their parliamentary strategy, including notices to be submitted in the House, adjournment motions and key issues they plan to raise during general discussions in the upcoming session.

The meeting was part of the alliance’s preparations to actively participate in parliamentary proceedings and highlight opposition concerns in the new session.