The deputy speaker, who chaired yesterday's sitting of the House, also castigated the AL for not participating in the general discussion on the August 21 grenade attack on its rally. "They (AL) did not want to discuss the grenade attack. So, they closed the ways for discussion by withdrawing their notices," he asserted.

"We have not observed such an incident (demonstration) in parliament for long," he said responding to a point of order raised by opposition lawmaker Abdul Kader Siddiqui.

Akhtar Hamid told the House, "You will be astonished to hear that AL lawmakers Mohammad Nasim, Shajahan Khan and Panchanon Biswas withdrew their notices submitted under provisions 48 and 147 (of the rules of procedure). After withdrawing the notices, they tried to compel the House to discuss the grenade attack under provision 62."

But there is no scope for discussion under provision 62 adjourning the business of the House as the matter is under investigation, he said.

The deputy speaker read out the restrictions under provision 63 on discussion on matters such as the grenade attack, but he did not read out the entire provision.

Provision 63 explained restrictions on the right to make adjournment motions but it also said "Speaker may exercise his discretion, allow such matter to be raised as is concerned with the procedure or stage or subject of enquiry…" The deputy speaker did not read out this part of the provision.

A number of ruling BNP lawmakers participating in discussions on call attention notices and general discussion on the recent floods blamed the AL for the grenade attack.