Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has directed MPs to finish their speeches within the allotted time before the start of the general discussion on the proposed 2026-27 budget in the National Parliament.
Urging them not to embarrass him by asking for extra time, the Speaker said: “Grocery shops do not put up a sign saying, do not embarrass us by asking for credit. Do not embarrass me by asking for time.”
Before the start of the budget discussion on Saturday, the Speaker said: “As time is short, the general budget discussion will be held over these two days, today and tomorrow. The parliament’s other business will be taken up after that.”
Addressing the MPs, the Speaker said he would inform members of the time fixed by the government and opposition whips, and that no extension would be given after that.
Advising MPs to watch the clock to avoid unfinished speeches, the Speaker said: “Speak watching the clock, and conclude in such a way that you do not have to sit down with an unfinished speech.”
The Speaker added: “For the successful conclusion of the budget session, you must stick to your time. So I say again, do not embarrass me with requests. Please finish your speech within the time given.”
Earlier, at the start of the session, the Speaker also set time limits for the discussion on the motion of thanks over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visits to Malaysia and China. When Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury sought to speak, he said: “If you finish your speech within five minutes, it will be possible to return quickly to the budget discussion.”
After the motion of thanks was adopted, the general budget discussion began. Giving the first speaker, Dhaka-7 MP Hamidur Rahman, six minutes, the Speaker said: “Your time is six minutes. Please finish in six minutes.”
When the allotted time ended, the Speaker stopped the speech and called the next speaker.
Gazipur-5 MP AKM Fazlul Haque Milon was then given 10 minutes. When he sought an extra two minutes near the end of his speech, the Speaker said: “There is no time.”
When Fazlul Haque again asked for time, the Speaker said: “I said at the start of the speeches: grocery shops do not put up a sign saying, do not embarrass us by asking for credit. Do not embarrass me by asking for time.”
Later, giving Shariatpur-2 MP Mohammad Shafiqur Rahman Kiron six minutes, the Speaker warned him in advance: “Speak watching the clock and finish with one minute to spare, so that you can complete your speech.”
Chattogram MP Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury also requested more speaking time. He said he had got seven minutes but had expected some “magnanimity” from the Speaker.
In reply, the Speaker said: “Do not embarrass me by asking for time.” When Giasuddin Quader again raised the matter of time, the Speaker said: “Your whips give the time, not me. Finish in seven minutes, please.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report