Budget debate sparks heated exchanges, record deletions

The parliament on Sunday saw an unusually contentious debate on the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, marked by a record number of expunctions from the official record.
In an effort to uphold parliamentary decorum, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took exceptional measures, revising the official proceedings to remove defamatory references to individuals, including striking out remarks he himself had previously made.
Speaker expunges own remarks
In an unusual step aimed at keeping personal matters out of parliamentary archives, the Speaker expunged his own comments relating to Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque.
The issue arose during Thursday’s budget discussion when Dhaka-1 MP Khondaker Abu Ashfaque made allegations concerning Mamunul Haque. At the time, Speaker Hafiz had observed that the “dark chapters of a political leader’s personal life” should not form part of the official record.
Upon review of the transcript, the Speaker ordered both Ashfaque’s allegations and his own subsequent remarks to be removed. He ruled that it is highly inappropriate to make adverse comments about an individual absent from the House and unable to respond, and urged lawmakers to exercise restraint in future debates.
Jamaat MP’s 1971 claim removed
The Speaker also ordered the expunction of a speech by Jamaat-e-Islami MP Abdul Muntakim of Nilphamari-4, who during the 14 June budget discussion claimed his father was martyred in the 1971 Liberation War. 
The claim sparked widespread criticism after social media scrutiny indicated that his father is still alive.
The matter was raised on a point of order by Kishoreganj-2 MP Md Jalal Uddin, who demanded correction of the record.
Speaker Hafiz said Muntakim had privately visited his chamber and admitted the statement was a “slip of the tongue”, accepting full responsibility for the misinformation. 
As the error was acknowledged as unintentional, the Speaker ordered its removal from the official record.
Heated exchanges over remarks on PM
Tensions also flared during the general budget debate as treasury and opposition lawmakers exchanged sharp words following a speech by NCP MP Abdul Hannan Masud of Noakhali-6.
Masud described the proposed budget as an unrealistic framework, questioning the projected 7.9% export growth target against last year’s actual 4.4% expansion. 

He also criticised the government’s reliance on heavy bank borrowing amid what he said was a banking sector 
burdened by large net deficits, to bridge a nearly Tk400,000 crore gap.
He further argued that a Tk25,000 increase in the tax-free income threshold would place psychological pressure on urban middle-class families.
The debate escalated when he criticised the previous regime’s “politics of naming”, questioned the home minister’s remarks on border killings as a threat to sovereignty, and made critical comments about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who is currently on a visit to Malaysia.
BNP MP Zainal Abedin Farroque immediately objected on a point of order, stating that Tarique Rahman, son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, “did not emerge from nowhere” but built his political career through 16 years of street agitation, and demanded expunction of the remarks.
Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir backed the objection, accusing the opposition of the same “fascist behaviour” they often condemn.
Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam countered that treasury bench members should identify specific factual inaccuracies rather than making blanket accusations, adding that the opposition has a legitimate right to criticise the prime minister, and that any leader can make a “slip of the tongue”.
Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman also intervened during the exchange as Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal presided over the session.

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