‘Everyone is crushing me with love’: Dr. Shafiqur sparks laughter in JS

Leader of the opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman speaking in Parliament on Tuesday.

Sangsad Bhaban, Apr 28 - In a parliamentary session marked by both tension and laughter on Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman remarked that he is being "crushed with love" by everyone in Parliament.

His comments came during a heated debate following allegations made by Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Chairman of the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), against the opposition camp on the Zia family.

The exchange took place during the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and head of the opposition bloc, quipped, "I am in quite a predicament. Everyone loves me so much that they keep crushing me with their words."

The witty remark prompted a wave of laughter across the House.

The humour was a brief respite from a sharp disagreement that had erupted earlier.

Andaleeve Rahman, known for his rhetorical skills, had brought various documents to the floor to support his arguments.

During his speech, he referenced comments of the opposition camp regarding the liberation of the people from the "Zia family's influence."

Dr Shafiqur Rahman took issue with the way the remarks were framed, challenging him to clarify when and where such statements were made by him.

"I have heard that Mr Partho is a great debater, and he has indeed brought a lot of materials today," Dr Shafiqur said.

"But he began his file with my name. I challenge him—when, where, and how did I say I want to 'wipe out' the Zia family? I do not use such reckless language against anyone, not even the family of Sheikh Hasina," he said.

Dr Shafiqur further added that he should not be held responsible for the statements of others, asking Partho not to "bestow such love" by attributing every controversial statement to his name.

As the debate intensified, Andaleeve Rahman clarified that he was citing a document where a leader from the National Citizen Party (NCP) – part of the opposition alliance – had made the remark, not Dr Shafiqur personally.

"I did not say it was him (the Opposition Leader). I mentioned the person who actually said it. Since I began by mentioning him as the leader of the 11-party alliance, it may have caused a misunderstanding," the BJP chief explained.

He added that in the digital age, there is no room for misrepresentation as everything is documented and easily verifiable.

The situation briefly escalated into a shouting match between the treasury and opposition benches, prompting Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal to intervene.

He urged the members to maintain order and respect the spirit of the "July Revolution", noting that the nation expects constructive dialogue rather than chaos.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman concluded by advising all members to be precise while citing documents in the House.

"Whenever we present a reference or a document in this Parliament, it must be clear and accurate to avoid confusion. If we speak based on specific documents, there will be no room for misunderstanding," he said.

The session eventually moved on to other legislative business, though the "crushed with love" comment remained the talk of the corridors. - UNB