Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal tells parliament he could not reach three ministers at 2am on the night of the Kushtia MP's house fire

Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal has told parliament of the difficulty he faced seeking help at midnight after a fire at the house of a reserved-seat woman lawmaker in Kushtia, saying he phoned the top office-holders of the home, law and energy ministries late at night but could not reach any of them.

He made the remarks on Thursday (November 12) in the Jatiya Sangsad, speaking from the Speaker's chair after a second round of speeches by opposition chief whip Nahid Islam and the home minister.

The Deputy Speaker said that when an incident occurs at a lawmaker's home or anywhere else, it is a matter of grave concern. When the incident happened at around 2am, he first called the home minister but could not reach him, he said.

He then called the law minister, who also could not be reached. Later, at around 2am, he phoned the state minister for energy as well, but contact could not be made with him either, the Deputy Speaker said.

The matter did eventually come to the administration's attention, albeit late, he noted, adding that the home minister promptly informed him that an investigation into the matter is under way.

Urging patience until the investigation ends, the Deputy Speaker said: 'Let us wait for the investigation. Then we will see whether the offenders are brought under the law.'