Jamaat MP raises objection to bowing gesture in Parliament

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday said bowing the head as a gesture of respect while entering the National Parliament is against Islamic principles and should be avoided.

Speaking on a point of order during a parliamentary session, he said a provision introduced in the Rules of Procedure to remove practices considered religiously inappropriate should be followed by all lawmakers.

Responding to the issue, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said he would review the Rules of Procedure before making a decision. He said showing respect is a personal matter and different forms of greeting are practised around the world.

Mujibur Rahman said the previous parliamentary rules included a practice of bowing the head upon entering Parliament as a sign of respect. He said the matter was later reviewed and amended, removing the practice as it was considered inconsistent with Islamic teachings.

He urged the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to avoid even a slight continuation of the gesture, saying that following the amended provision would help lawmakers avoid religious concerns.

Another Jamaat MP, Md Nurul Amin, supported Mujibur Rahman’s remarks and said the issue was raised as part of maintaining parliamentary practice.

JB/TZ