Opposition deputy leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher accused the BNP of becoming a “champion of inequality” after an opposition walkout during the first sitting of parliament’s third session on Thursday night. Speaking at a press briefing on the parliamentary premises, he alleged that opposition lawmakers were being denied development funds provided to BNP representatives and said reserved-seat women MPs from his side had received little budget allocation.

Taher said opposition MPs had protested remarks by the home minister, which he said created conditions for two walkouts. According to him, the final walkout followed BNP’s position that a referendum was not covered by the constitution, despite earlier support for it. He said the prime minister had also urged a “yes” vote in the referendum.

He said the opposition rejected efforts to pass bills by majority force without fully implementing the public verdict in the referendum and reforming the constitution. Taher named the National Human Rights Commission Bill and the Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Bill. NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam said the home minister had made derogatory remarks toward MPs Hasnat Abdullah and Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud during questions on law and order.