PM asks MPs to step up relief
The budget session of the ninth Parliament began on Thursday with the opposition boycotting the House proceedings centering the rearrangement of seats for the opposition lawmakers in the front row.
The second session started yesterday at 3.22 PM with the Parliament Speaker Advocate Abdul Hamid in the Chair. The House proceeding was adjourned till 4Pm on Sunday.
The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alongwith her cabinet colleagues were present in yesterday’s session while JP Chairman HM Ershad remained absent. In the front bench some five seats were allocated for the opposition leaders. Besides, other four seats out of the nine have been fixed for Workers Party leader Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Party MP Mujibur Rahman, Liberal Democratic Party leader Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed and the Industries Minister and Sammyabadi Dal leader Dilip Barua.
The opposition, which abstained from joining the session yesterday, are still undecided whether they would join on Sunday or not.
BNP sources said the opposition may join the parliament on Sunday.
Talking to newsmen, Opposition Whip Jainul Abedin Frauk said, “We earlier demanded an honourable position in the front bench but our demands were not met yet. Due to the illness of our Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, the BNP Parliamentary Committee meeting could not be held on Thursday. We would clear our stance after the meeting with her anytime next week.”
He, however, avoided reply to a question on what he meant by the ‘honourable position’ on seat-sharing in the parliament.
Yesterday’s session also passed an obituary reference to the sad demise of some 16 eminent personalities – including Nuclear Scientist and Prime Minister’s husband Dr M A Wazed Mia, lawmaker of the ninth parliament Begum Momtaz Iqbal, those who died in the recent cyclone Aila and also in the February 25-26 Pilkhana carnage in the capital.
A one-minute silence was observed in honour of the deceased and special prayer was offered seeking salvation of the departed souls.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the ninth parliament Advocate Abdul Hamid, in his inaugural speech of the budget session said that both treasury and opposition benches should work together with an aim to change the fate of people.
“People have given you (MPs) mandate to change their fate. It should be your duties and responsibilities to bring good for the people of the country,” he observed addimg, “I hope you would continue your effort keeping in mind your election-pledges to build up a ‘hunger-free Sonar Bangla’ earlier dreamt of by the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
Referring to some limitations of MPs in performing their jobs, the Speaker assured that each MP would get vehicle and office in the JS complex and also in their electoral constituencies.
“Besides, for the chairmen of different parliamentary standing committee various facilities, including office in Jatiya Sangsad Complex, personal assistant and MLSS will be ensured,” he added, urging the lawmakers to play a very positive role in the passage of a people-oriented budget.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and leader of the House Sheikh Hasina has asked lawmakers to step up rapid relief distribution among the Aila-affected people and their proper rehabilitation with utmost priority.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, directed the authorities concerned to construct the damaged river-embankments as well as to carry out river-dredging for smooth navigability in the vulnerable areas across the country within the shortest possible time.
Leader of the House gave such direction during a two-hour meting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) at Jatiya Sangsad’s ruling party’s conference room on Thursday.
Mentioning her government’s pledge to ensure a balanced development in all parts of the country, Sheikh Hasina said, “During the erstwhile BNP-Jamaat government there was no development in many areas. You have to find out those deprived areas and ensure equal development.”
She also suggested her party’s new lawmakers to take part in the ongoing budgetary discussion after acquiring adequate knowledge in this connection and also asked them to become knowledgeable about rules of procedures and other related issues needed for discussion.
After the meeting ruling party Whip Abdus Shahid briefed the newsmen saying that around 232 MPs including women representatives participated the ALPP meeting where Sheikh Hasina listened to lawmakers of the Aila affected areas.
Replying to a query, Abdus Shahid said the Speaker has allocated two more seats to BNP more than the 10percent of the proportionate seat distribution.
He urged the opposition to return to the House to make the parliament effective.
The election of the city corporations and municipalities, law and order situation also came in the discussion.
Photo: voanews.com File Photo of BD Parliament
Courtesy of The Bangladesh Today
