After a long gap of one and a half year, the main opposition BNP is all set to return to the parliament in the ensuing budget session of the 9th parliament scheduled to start on June 3 (Monday). Its return to the parliament will also coincide with speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury’s debut as Speaker in the House. Shirin who took oath after being elected as first female Speaker of the country on April 20 is yet to preside any session. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has already convened a meeting of the parliamentary party of her party on June 3 at the national parliament building.
“Whether we shall return to the parliament on that day or later will be decided in the BNPP meeting presided over by BNP chairperson and the leader of the opposition,” opposition chief whip Joynal Abedin Faruk told The Independent on Saturday.
He hoped that before the starting of the budget session the government will take necessary steps to release arrested BNP lawmakers MK Anwar and Barkatullah Bulu.
Though BNP is going to join the session to retain the membership of its lawmakers, BNP lawmakers are going to raise several issues including party’s demand for the restoration of the caretaker government, killing of the opposition activists by law enforcers, crackdown on Hefazat rally, Corruption of the government specially the Padma Bridge scandal, closure of media outlets and law and order situation in the House, a number of senior party leader told this correspondent.
When asked several BNP leaders said that they are not going to move any bill for the restoration of the CG saying they would raise the demand in the House in their speeches.
“If we find that the treasury bench will not allow us to raise our issue we shall definitely walk out,” a senior BNP lawmaker preferring anonymity said.
On March 20 last year, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia delivered a one and half hour long speech in the House and from then she remained absent from the House. According to the parliament secretariat, BNP lawmakers remain absent in the House for consecutive 83 days and as per Constitution the membership of any lawmaker will be annulled if he or she remains absent from the House for 90 consecutive days.
Meanwhile, the newly elected Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury is expected to make her debut in presiding the House on June 3 as the first female Speaker of the country.
Talking to The Independent Sharmin said that in running the House she would be utmost neutral. About the oppositions’ demand for release of the detained opposition lawmakers, from jail, she said, it is under the jurisdiction of the court and would be resolved through legal procedures.
“The matter is directly under the jurisdiction of the court. But as Speaker, I can earnestly request the court to consider their release, as the budget session will start on June 3,” she said.
Asked whether she would take any initiative to hold dialogue between the two parties, she said, “Any talks can take place inside Parliament. Parliament is the centre of all talks, where I can play an independent role. If the dialogue is to take place outside the House, the ruling and Opposition parties will have to take the initiatives.”
-With The Independent input
