Jute and Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui today hit out at Speaker Abdul Hamid for his remark likening the parliament to a ‘fish market’ for hustle and bustle in the House. “If it is a fish market, who is the wholesaler then?” he shot a question taking the floor after question-answer session with Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali in the chair.

The minister asked the speaker to be cautious in choosing words before speaking. Latif came up with his strongly worded statement as the speaker yesterday expressed his annoyance at the absence of front-ranking treasury-bench members. Though Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also leader of the House, gave explanation on the ministers’ absence, Speaker Abdul Hamid was not convinced.

Citing instances from what he called mother parliament (House of Commons) Latif said the question does not arise about the presence or absence of ministers in the British Parliament. The ministers remain present only at the time of passage of bills or questions--and this is the tradition.

“Our parliament is still shrouded with mist and fog,” the Minister said in his cryptic reprisals, adding those who want to make the parliament dysfunctional will feel encouraged from such statement of the speaker. Citing from the Kaul’s (most-quoted author of practice and procedure of parliament) scriptures on legislature, he said the speaker should not act as “master”. He urged the speaker not to make comment on his own liking.

-Daily Star