Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, a prominent women’s rights organization, has expressed deep outrage and condemnation over what it described as disrespectful behavior toward the national anthem during the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on March 12, 2026.
The incident occurred amid a tense inaugural sitting marked by opposition protests and a subsequent walkout against President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s address. Reports from the session indicate that a section of opposition lawmakers, particularly from war criminal Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, remained seated or rose only partially while the national anthem, “Amar Shonar Bangla,” was being played, prompting gestures from ruling party members, including Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to stand in respect.
In a strongly worded statement, the organization highlighted the symbolic importance of the anthem and criticized the conduct as an affront to national dignity.
The statement was signed by President Fauzia Moslem and General Secretary Maleka Banu.
“After a long one and a half years, the Jatiya Sangsad session began on February 12. The people of Bangladesh have elected their representatives with a mandate to establish democracy and the rule of law. But we observed with deep anger that during the performance of the national anthem, a section of opposition members, instead of standing to show respect, remained seated in their places, displaying disrespectful behavior toward the national anthem. The entire nation witnessed this incident,” the statement read.
Mahila Parishad voiced “intense condemnation, outrage, and deep concern” over what it called “arrogant and audacious conduct.”
The organization emphasized the anthem’s profound significance: “The national anthem is one of the primary symbols of our great liberation struggle, sovereignty, and national dignity. Showing respect to the national anthem is not merely a formality; it is a fundamental expression of reverence toward our national history, the spirit of the Liberation War, and our collective identity.”
It further argued that such behavior on the very first day set a negative precedent: “This kind of conduct by representatives on the first day of the Jatiya Sangsad session has established a negative example for democratic values, political culture, and national dignity.”
The statement accused the actions of striking at the nation’s liberation spirit: “Such arrogant behavior by people’s representatives regarding the national anthem has dealt a blow to the entire nation’s sense of independence and dignity, and has called into question the competence and accountability of the representatives toward the country.”
Mahila Parishad called on all political parties to uphold national symbols.
“Bangladesh Mahila Parishad strongly urges the representatives of all political parties to refrain from any kind of disrespectful behavior toward the national anthem and other national symbols in the future, to maintain proper respect for them, and to uphold the national dignity and the spirit of the Liberation War.”
The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of broader disruptions in the session, where opposition MPs protested President Shahabuddin’s presence—labeling him with slogans and displaying placards—before walking out shortly after his address began. The parliament, dominated by the BNP-led alliance following the February 12 election, has already seen heated debates, including over condolence motions that included figures convicted in 1971 war crimes cases.
Women’s rights advocates, including Mahila Parishad, previously raised concerns about the political landscape post-election, including limited female representation and perceived threats to secular and liberation-oriented values. This latest condemnation underscores ongoing tensions surrounding respect for national symbols in the evolving parliamentary environment.