A high-powered parliamentary body headed by the Speaker sits today to decide on lawmakers' claim that assault on them by law enforcers and arrests and search of their houses without warrant are violations of their privileges.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Privileges sits for the first time since its formation in the inaugural session of the current Jatiya Sangsad in October 2001, sources at the parliament secretariat said.

Senior lawmakers including Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina, LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Abdul Hamid and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed are members of the committee.
Sources said Awami League members sought protection from the House claiming that arrests of lawmakers and search of their residences without warrant during the Operation Clean Heart had violated their privileges. Opposition Chief Whip Abdus Shahid and Whip Mirza Azam also raised the issue of violation of their constitutional rights by certain atrocities committed by law enforcers during hartals.

AL lawmaker Talukdar Abdul Khaleq complained law enforcers had violated his privileges by arresting him without any warrant during the operation and by not providing him division while in prison.

AL lawmaker Shawkat Ali alleged law enforcers had arrested him without any specific charge in violation of his privileges.

In a notice, BNP lawmaker Nurul Islam Moni alleged after the 2001 general elections a Jatiya Party leader, who is also a lawmaker, threatened him with death and thus violated his privilege.

BNP lawmaker Abu Hena also raised an issue of privilege violation by a press report.