Online Desk: Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman had establish ‘marshal democracy’ in the country instead of continuing the parliamentary democracy. “After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, the parliament was null and void and martial law was promulgated rejecting the parliamentary democracy,” he said taking part in the discussion on a motion brought by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina under section 147 of the rules of procedure of the Jatiya Sangsad marking the 50 years of the parliament at the special session of the Jatiya Sangsad, BSS reports

Dr Hasan said the parliament was turned into a ‘funny place’ following an election held in 1988 where ASM Abdur Rab was made a domestic opposition party leader.

Even Begum Khaleda Zia had stigmatized the parliament by electing Colonel Rashid, a self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in a voter-less elections held on February 15 in 1996, said the minister who is a lawmaker from Chattogram-7. “It is also a most disappointing thing that the residences of the Jatiya Sangsad Speaker and the Chief Whip were transformed into prisons in 2007”, said the ruling party leader in his address with Deputy Speaker Shamsul Huq Tuku in the chair.

Even a court was formed in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban for holding trial of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who also was the then opposition leader in parliament, he said. Those who did those evil activities need to be brought under book, said the minister. The development and parliamentary democracy are closely related, said the information minister, adding: “If democracy cannot work smoothly then the development does not take place.”