Treasury, opposition have equal right to question PM: Speaker
The practice of questioning the PM in parliament is modelled on the Westminster system's Prime Minister's Questions, usually scheduled on Wednesdays to enforce ministerial accountability.
All members of parliament (MPs), both from the treasury and opposition benches, have an equal right to ask questions to the prime minister and leader of the House during the question-answer sessions in parliament, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has said.
"Both the treasury and opposition lawmakers have the right to ask questions to the PM during the question-answer sessions in the House, and it is their right according to the Rules of Procedure of parliament," he said when Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee took the floor following the PM's question-answer session in parliament and inquired about treasury bench lawmakers' right to ask the PM questions during his question-answer session fixed today (15 April).
The speaker, however, said that although ministers have the privilege of talking frequently with the PM, this is why ministers can leave this opportunity to other lawmakers.
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The practice of questioning the PM in parliament is modelled on the Westminster system's Prime Minister's Questions, usually scheduled on Wednesdays to enforce ministerial accountability.
The first 30 minutes of the designated session allow MPs to ask questions, though in practice, it is often theatrical, with treasury bench members asking pre-set, non-critical questions.
