Bangladesh Speaker orders MPs to stick to time in FY2026-27 budget debate

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on Saturday instructed members of Bangladesh’s National Parliament to complete their speeches within the allotted time during the general discussion on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27, rejecting requests for extensions and telling lawmakers: “Do not embarrass yourselves by asking for time.”

At the start of the budget debate, the Speaker said time was limited and that discussions on the budget would continue for two days — Saturday and Sunday — before the House moved on to other business. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said members must conclude their remarks within the time fixed by the government and opposition whips.

Addressing lawmakers, the Speaker said, “Today, the time fixed for you by the whips of the government and opposition parties will be announced when I call you. After that, no more time will be given.”

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed added, “So you will speak with an eye on the clock and conclude in such a way that you do not have to sit down leaving your speech unfinished.”

Warning members against seeking extra time, the Speaker said, “For the successful conclusion of the budget session, we are compelled to make you stick to your time. So I am saying again, please do not embarrass us by making requests. Kindly finish your speech within the time given.”

Earlier, at the beginning of the sitting, the House discussed a thanksgiving motion on Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s visits to Malaysia and China. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also imposed time limits during that discussion. When Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury sought to speak, the Speaker said the House could return to the budget debate if remarks were finished within five minutes.

The Speaker said, “I think that if each of you finishes your speech in five minutes, then we can return to the budget discussion.”

The budget discussion began after the thanksgiving motion was passed. The first speaker, Hamidur Rahman, member of parliament for Dhaka-7, was given six minutes. The Speaker told him, “Your time is six minutes. Please finish within six minutes.” When the allotted time ended, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stopped him, saying, “Thank you. Thank you, honourable member. Next speaker.”

AKM Fazlul Haque Milon, member of parliament for Gazipur-5, was then given 10 minutes. Near the end of his speech, he requested two more minutes, saying, “Honourable Speaker, please give me these two more minutes.” The Speaker replied, “There is no time.” When Milon asked again, the Speaker said, “I said at the beginning of the speech, just as it is written in grocery shops, ‘Do not embarrass yourself by asking for credit’; do not embarrass yourself by asking for time.”

Later, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed gave six minutes to Muhammad Shafikur Rahman Kiran, member of parliament for Shariatpur-2, and warned him in advance: “Speak with an eye on the clock and finish with one minute remaining, so that you can conclude your speech.”

When Gias Uddin Kader Chowdhury, a lawmaker from Chattogram, drew the Speaker’s attention to the issue of time, he received the same message. Gias Uddin Kader said he had been given seven minutes, but had expected some “magnanimity” from the Speaker. Before he could finish, the Speaker said, “Do not embarrass yourselves by asking for time.”

When Gias Uddin Kader raised the issue again, the Speaker said, “Your whips give you the time, not I. Please finish within seven minutes.”