‘Got love from Teknaf to Tetulia’: Rumeen Farhana thanks BNP for not nominating her

Independent Member of Parliament Rumeen Farhana has thanked the BNP for not nominating her as a contestant for the 13th national election.

“It is precisely because I was not given a nomination that I realised how much love, prayers, and support I have from millions of people from Teknaf to Tetulia. Had I contested from within a party circle, I would not have had the good fortune to understand this,” she said today (7 April) during her speech on the president’s address in parliament. 

Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal was presiding over the session at the time.

During her speech, she also spoke about bringing a balance of power between the president and the prime minister. 

She said, “Naturally, we had an expectation that this time the president would be able to deliver his own speech in parliament, moving beyond the one approved by the cabinet. But we saw that this time too, the president had to deliver a speech approved by the prime minister and the cabinet. 

“If we cannot grant even this much independence to the president, then what kind of balance are we talking about?”

She further stated that unless the vast amount of money laundered out of the country over the last 15 years is brought back, or money in defaulted loans in the banking sector is reduced, no economic recovery efforts will work. 

Rumeen added, “I say this very humbly – women were at the forefront of this movement. We saw a host of new faces from the younger generation. Why did those women disappear before a year could pass? 

“As one of the seven female MPs in this parliament, I leave that question to you. Women are needed at the front of the procession. Women stand as a shield against police tear gas and baton charges. 

“Turbulent times cannot be weathered without the help of women. But when everything is settled, women become objects of trolling; a woman’s clothes, her appearance, her words, and her smile all become fodder for mockery. 

“If anyone thinks of building a ‘new Bangladesh’ by leaving behind 52% of the population, it will never be possible,” said the lawmaker.