The Opposition will be allowed to speak freely in the House, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“I can assure the opposition that you can freely criticise the government,” she said on Wednesday (Jan 30) during the first session of the 11th Parliament.
Hasina said that Dec 30 polls were participatory and the current Parliament was established on the basis of a successful election.
Addressing Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury who was sworn in as the Speaker earlier, she said, “It’s my duty as the leader of the Parliament to look after everyone’s rights.
“In the same way, you have to ensure that all the members including the government and opposition get the same floor.” She pledged to cooperate with the Speaker in this regard.
The prime minister said that Bangladesh exemplifies the merits of democracy in taking a country forward adding, “We will build a poverty-free and hunger-free society.”
She further addressed the MPs saying that it was their duty to meticulously carry out the responsibilities of people’s representatives and build a peaceful, terrorism-free, corruption free and narcotics free Bangladesh.