Speaker irked as over 40percent of listed MPs skip budget session

More than 40 percent of lawmakers listed to participate in the budget debate were absent from the House, prompting Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad to express his displeasure on Saturday over poor attendance during one of Parliament's most important annual discussions.

The Speaker’s frustration became evident while presiding over the Jatiya Sangsad sitting after several lawmakers whose names appeared on the speakers' list failed to respond when called to take part in the general discussion on the proposed national budget for FY2026-27.

The exchange came to a head when BNP lawmaker Md Amanullah Aman, elected from Dhaka-2, declined to deliver his speech after the Speaker invited him to speak.

"Your name has been given in the list," the Speaker told Aman.

"I did not give my name," Aman replied.

"If you are not prepared, that's fine. You may speak later if necessary," the Speaker said before asking the chief whip about the large number of absent lawmakers.

He then called on BNP lawmaker Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, elected from Dhaka-3, asking whether he was prepared to speak. The senior BNP lawmaker replied that he had not been scheduled to speak on Saturday. "But as you called my name, for your honour I will deliver my speech," Roy said before beginning his remarks. The incident highlighted concerns over lawmakers' participation in the budget debate, during which MPs are expected to scrutinise the government's fiscal proposals before the budget is passed.