BNP walks out after withdrawing motions.................

The BNP-led opposition MPs staged a brief walkout from parliament Tuesday during the passage of a bill.

The opposition, who has opposed ratification of all ordinances made by the interim government, earlier withdrew their disapproval motion for an ordinance on the president's remuneration.

The opposition MPs did not deliver their speeches on disapproval motions on "The Income Tax (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2007" and "The Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2008".

And the disapproval motions were not tabled in parliament.

This is the first time that the opposition has withdrawn their disapproval motion.

The 26 MPs of the BNP-led opposition submitted notices for disapproving the "The President's (Remuneration and Privileges) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007" and two other ordinances on income tax ordinances.

Speaker Abdul Hamid gave floor to Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury for speaking against the ordinance.

The senior BNP MP said, "We withdraw the disapproval motions as a constitutionally elected President has taken over now."

"We submitted disapproval motions as we had an unconstitutional president who violated the constitution."

The BNP accuses former president Iajuddin Ahmed of breaching the constitution. Zillur Rahman was elected President unopposed to replace Iajuddin.

The attending MPs applauded Chowdhury's speech.

But Awami League MP Fazle Rabbi Mian tried to attack him.

"Mr Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury could understand it of late.

"But my question is whether all the BNP MPs have withdrawn the disapproval motions."

The speaker said since none of the opposition MPs have objected to Chowdhury's statement "I think all of the disapproval motions have been withdrawn".

"Can't we change the culture of verbal salvo," asked speaker Hamid amid table-thumbing by all MPs.