Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia have not been complying with the constitutional provision since its introduction in May last year by the coalition government through amending the constitution, sources said.

The speaker and the prime minister are however preserving and displaying the portrait of the prime minister in their parliament offices to comply with another constitutional obligation.

The constitutional provision says, " Portrait of the President shall be preserved and displayed at the offices of the President, Prime Minister and Speaker and all embassies and missions of Bangladesh abroad."

Talking to The Daily Star over telephone yesterday Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar said he did not notice whether the portrait of the president is preserved and displayed in his office. He however said the portrait of the prime minister is being preserved and displayed in his office.

"I have two rooms in my office. It may be that the portrait of the president is being preserved and displayed in another room," said the speaker.

He said the parliament secretariat is to look after such matters. The secretary has been changed and a new one joined a few days ago.

Five minutes later, the speaker called The Daily Star and said, "I have inquired about the matter. The portrait of the president was there. It has been sent to be framed."

The BNP-led coalition amid severe criticism by the main opposition Awami League passed the 14th constitutional amendment bill on May 16 last year to include the provisions of preserving and displaying the portraits of the president and the prime minister in different government, semi government and autonomous body offices.

The president consented to the bill on May 17 last year and the government published official gazette of the law.