Lawmaker's False War Hero Claim Expunged from Bangladeshi Parliament Record

Parliamentary records in Bangladesh will no longer include a controversial statement made by Jamaat-e-Islami MP Abdul Muntakim, who had claimed his father was a martyr of the 1971 Liberation War. The claim was retracted after it was revealed that his father is still alive.

Muntakim, the lawmaker for Nilphamari-4, made the assertion during a budget discussion on June 14. His remarks quickly went viral on social media, drawing significant criticism and strong reactions from various groups. The issue was brought to the attention of Parliament through a point of order raised by Md Jalal Uddin, MP for Kishoreganj-2.

Jalal Uddin argued that Muntakim's false statement was misleading and unacceptable for parliamentary proceedings, emphasizing that the MP's father is alive. Responding to the situation, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad stated that while it wasn't a formal point of order, the concerned MP had met him privately. During this meeting, Muntakim admitted the statement was a "slip of tongue," acknowledged his father's survival, and accepted responsibility for the error.

Given that the mistake was deemed unintentional, the Speaker ordered the statement to be expunged from the official parliamentary record. The incident underscores the importance of accuracy in parliamentary discourse and the scrutiny faced by public figures regarding historical claims.

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This is not a point of order. However, the concerned MP has already met me in my chamber and admitted it was a slip of tongue. He acknowledged his father is alive and accepted responsibility for the mistake. Since it was unintentional, the statement will be expunged.