The Speaker of Bangladesh’s Parliament, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom, has ordered an investigation into the purchase of the parliamentary microphone system following repeated technical failures that disrupted sessions. On Sunday evening, a malfunction forced the Speaker to suspend proceedings for 40 minutes after members complained they could not hear speeches. A similar disruption had occurred on March 12, the first day of the current session.

According to the Speaker, the sound system was damaged when protesters entered Parliament on August 5, 2024, during the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Although repairs were made, malfunctions have persisted, and members have continued to raise complaints about sound quality and headphone issues. The Speaker noted that the system was originally installed in 2022 under the previous government, but no warranty or documentation could be found. He criticized the installation process as careless and said the supplier company was avoiding responsibility.

The Speaker directed the Parliament Secretary to investigate and report the facts, calling the repeated disruptions a serious embarrassment for the state.