The third session of the 13th Parliament turned heated on its opening day on Thursday as opposition lawmakers protested remarks made by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed during the question-answer session, triggering loud protests and disrupting proceedings for around 10 minutes.

Opposition lawmakers strongly objected to what they described as disparaging remarks by the minister. Although Salahuddin later withdrew the remarks, the situation did not immediately calm.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad repeatedly urged the opposition lawmakers to take their seats and allow the minister to speak.

Later, expressing concern over what he described as growing intolerance among lawmakers, the Speaker said he was “somewhat concerned” about the future of Parliament.

The incident began when Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Shafiqul Islam Masud, while asking a supplementary question, alleged that snatching incidents are taking place in broad daylight and that lawmakers are being attacked.

He also alleged that opposition leaders and activists are being arrested in false cases, while accused persons in cases involving attacks on opposition members are not being arrested.

Masud asked what steps the home minister is taking in this regard.

Initially, Salahuddin said he was inattentive during the first minute and asked Masud to repeat his question.

After Masud repeated it, the minister said, “Speaking at Shahbagh Square and speaking in Parliament are not the same thing.”

The remark immediately drew strong protests from opposition lawmakers, many of whom stood up and began shouting.

Earlier, while replying to a question from National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah, Salahuddin said, “I could not understand whether this is a question or a speech at Paltan.”

Although some lawmakers mildly objected to that remark, the reaction became much stronger after his response to Masud’s question.

Facing the protests, the minister said he did not direct the remark at anyone.

As the commotion continued, he told the Speaker, “I am seeking your shelter.”

Amid the uproar, the home minister eventually said he was withdrawing his remarks. But the opposition members continued their protest, forcing him to sit down at one point as he could not be heard over the noise.

The Speaker repeatedly urged the lawmakers to remain seated and listen to the minister.

"Honourable members, that is enough. You have spoken for a long time. Now please sit down. Please take your seats," he was heard saying.

Hafiz Uddin also told the opposition members that they will be given an opportunity to speak through their microphones instead of shouting from their seats.

"This is not the Awami League's time. Here you can criticise the government as much as you want. Please sit down and wait," he said.

The Speaker assured the opposition that he will give the opposition leader the floor after the home minister completed his statement.

Salahuddin then resumed speaking, while the opposition lawmakers continued standing and protesting. The Speaker urged him to address the Chair.

Amid the continued uproar, Salahuddin said questions about where snatching took place and whether accused persons were arrested should be raised specifically rather than making wholesale remarks.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin subsequently gave the floor to Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman.

As some treasury bench lawmakers began making comments, Shafiqur responded, "Will you give the speech, or will I? You give it."

Addressing the Speaker, he said, "This is ominous. If comments are made like this while I am speaking, then there is no need for me to stand here."

The Speaker then asked him to continue.

Shafiqur said, "With due respect to the honourable Members of Parliament and the home minister, I want to say he has not used these words for the first time today. Since the Parliament began its session, he has been belittling everyone. I do not understand what he thinks of himself."

He further alleged that Salahuddin had previously shown the "audacity" to say in Parliament that he would play the role of a teacher.

"We did not come here to become his students. If he wants to teach, let him open a university. Those who like it can enrol there and listen to his lectures," the opposition leader said.

He said the home minister "attacked" the opposition twice in the same sitting.

"My colleagues think, and I also think, that this is not cultural; this is parliamentary fascism. This should not happen," he said.

Demanding that the home minister apologise and that his remarks be expunged from the parliamentary record, Shafiqur said the opposition will remain in the House if those demands are met. "Otherwise, there is no question of sitting here with this humiliation," he said.

Opposition lawmakers thumped their desks in support of their leader.

Speaker concerned about Parliament's future

Later, Speaker Hafiz Uddin said all lawmakers are working to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people in Parliament.

He said Parliament cannot function effectively if its Rules of Procedure are not followed.

"I am deeply saddened to observe that I am increasingly noticing intolerance among some members," the Speaker said.

He reminded lawmakers that Parliament has been elected for five years and that everyone has the right to speak.

Hafiz Uddin said the home minister's remarks will be examined and any unparliamentary words will be expunged, if necessary.

"But do not take away the freedom of speech. There are twice or three times as many members on this side (the treasury bench) as there are on your (opposition) side. So, the message cannot be silenced by making noise. Let me run the Parliament," he told the opposition.

In response, Opposition Leader Shafiqur said the issue was already clear and did not require further examination.

He also objected to the Speaker's reference to the numerical strength of the two sides. "I did not like it when, towards the end, you said that there are three times as many members on this side than on that side. I am not in favour of dividing this Parliament by any ratio," he said.

"We have said from the beginning that we will all unite for good work and work together. If anything wrong happens, we will protest," Shafiqur said.

Later, ruling party lawmaker Md Manirul Haque Chowdhury spoke on a point of order.

After his remarks, Speaker Hafiz Uddin expressed concern over the way lawmakers prevented one another from speaking.

"Honourable Members of Parliament, I am somewhat concerned about the future of Parliament. Today, I have observed attempts to prevent one another from speaking. This is not a good sign for Parliament," he said.

The Speaker said democracy has been achieved after much struggle. “Every Member of Parliament has a responsibility to ensure that this democracy remains intact.”