In an unprecedented move, Speaker Abdul Hamid yesterday completely expunged Jute and Textile Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui's October 12 statement from parliament proceedings.

“The minister's statement under section 300 of the rules of procedure was against the rules of procedure. Therefore, his [Latif) entire statement was expunged from the parliament proceedings on that day,” the speaker said.

The speaker also expunged two words he (speaker) used on October 11 from parliament proceedings.

The parliament officials told The Daily Star that such expunction against a minister is an unprecedented act.

The speaker on October 11 expressed disappointment over absence of ministers and senior lawmakers who sit in the front row, which forced postponement of the scheduled discussion on a draft of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

At that time, Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina alone was present in the front row.

Later, the speaker expressed annoyance at some lawmakers' making noise by engaging in conversation during the disposal of call attention notices on that day.

The speaker uttered 'fish market' amid the noisy environment in the House.

On the following day, on October 12, the jute and textile minister made a statement under section 300 of the rules of procedure of parliament and criticised the speaker for using the word 'fish market'.

Siddiqui, also ruling AL presidium member, criticised the speaker for his comment over the absence of the ministers in the House.

While the jute and textile minister was making the statement, Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali was presiding over the sitting and he said the speaker certainly will reply to the minister's statement.

The speaker yesterday came up with his response and found the minister's statement was violation of the rules of procedure.

In defence of his ruling, the speaker said a minister has right to make statement under section 300 of the rules of procedure on a specific issue related to public interest or any other important issue.

“But a minister cannot raise any other irrelevant issue while making statement under section 300,” Hamid, also a seasoned parliamentarian, said.

On using the two words he said he used the two words to bring the atmosphere in the House in order.

“It was symbolic and I regret for this. I expunged the two words from the parliament proceedings,” the speaker said but he did not utter the two words he used.

The minister was not present in the House when the speaker gave his ruling.