MPs to Respect Speaker via Personal Religious Customs

Members of the National Parliament of Bangladesh will henceforth show respect to the Speaker’s chair or the presiding officer in accordance with their respective religious customs. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed announced this formal ruling at the commencement of Thursday’s parliamentary sitting. The decision clarifies the established protocol observed by lawmakers when entering, exiting, or moving within the parliament chamber, thereby aligning personal religious sentiments with statutory legislative procedures.

Procedural History and Statutory Amendments

The practice of showing deference to the chair is a long-standing tradition within the legislature, with lawmakers customarily bowing or offering verbal salutations upon entering the chamber to honor the House and its presiding officer. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed noted that the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament previously contained a specific provision requiring members to bow physically as a sign of respect. However, this clause underwent a significant statutory modification two decades ago.

Providing a historical overview of the legislation, the Speaker noted that on 20 September 2006, during the Eighth Parliament, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Rules of Procedure submitted a comprehensive evaluation report. The parliament formally adopted the committee’s recommendations on 26 September 2006. This amendment excised the specific requirement of physical bowing from the official legislative text.

During Thursday’s session, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed cited Rule 267 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament to establish the current legal framework, stating:

“An MP shall show respect to the Chair when entering or leaving the Parliament during a sitting, and when taking or leaving their seat.”

The Speaker further clarified the operational boundaries of this rule to the assembled lawmakers:

“Since the word ‘bowing’ has been omitted, honourable members, you shall show respect to the Speaker’s chair or the presiding officer according to your respective religious customs.”

Legislative Debate and the Path to the Ruling

The issue was brought to the forefront on 16 June, when Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Member of Parliament, Mujibur Rahman, raised an objection on a point of order regarding the practice of physical bowing within the chamber. He argued that although the practice was historically mandated by the Rules of Procedure, it had been explicitly removed via the 2006 amendment. In response to his objection, the Speaker assured the House that he would examine the historical records and deliver a formal decision.

The matter received further attention on Wednesday, when Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Member of Parliament, Zainul Abdin Farroque, requested the Speaker to resolve the pending procedural question. The continuous deliberations by lawmakers from different political parties prompted the Speaker to deliver his definitive ruling during Thursday’s opening proceedings.

Chronological Evolution of Rule 267 (1)

The key administrative milestones and parliamentary events leading to the final ruling regarding Rule 267 (1) are outlined in the table below: