Fuel Shortage, Constitutional Reform, and Political Debate Highlighted in Parliament

A Member of Parliament from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Mohammad Kamal Hossain, said he had to wait on the road until 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday night in search of fuel but was unable to obtain any.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, he remarked, “Fuel seems to exist only in the honorable Parliament. So much ‘oil’ is being wasted here, while people outside cannot find any.” His comment appeared to be a metaphorical criticism of excessive praise within the legislature.

Kamal Hossain also referred to remarks by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who said that a referendum is legally valid. “If a referendum is valid, then the session of the Constitutional Reform Council must be convened. Otherwise, after 180 days, this Parliament will become illegitimate,” he warned.

He further stated that those who sacrificed their lives did so with the call for rebuilding the state. “The martyrs shed blood to repair the state. Without changing the Constitution, mere amendments will not be enough,” he added.

Taking part in the same discussion, BNP lawmaker AKM Fazlul Haque Milon said that the “July Charter” is not just rhetoric or a collection of words, but a practical framework tied to people’s aspirations and sacrifices. “It requires a structured discussion for proper implementation,” he noted.

He also criticized opposition members, saying they often rely on “hearsay politics” and emphasized the need to focus on solutions.

Another BNP MP, Mohammad Abu Sufian, raised concerns about misinformation on social media targeting the Prime Minister and senior leaders. He called for legal measures, stating, “Condemnation alone is not enough. Laws must be enacted to stop this. Many are forgetting the line between freedom of speech and crime.”

Meanwhile, BNP MP Abdus Salam Azad warned that Bangladesh risks turning into a desert due to the impact of the Farakka Barrage. He recalled that former President Ziaur Rahman had once called for a canal excavation movement to address water challenges, adding that current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has revived that initiative.