Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked all concerned not to construct anything that might affect the original design of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area, as it is the icon of the country.
She gave the directive while speaking at the 24th Meeting of the Secretarial Commission of Parliament held at the parliament building. Designed by world famous American architect Louis Isadore Kahn, the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world.
Chaired by Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the meeting was attended, among others, by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, whip ASM Firoz, Sagufta Yasmin and secretary of the Parliament Secretariat M Mahfuzur Rahman.
State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam attended the meeting as the Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed is now abroad.
“Before constructing anything in the Parliament area, the authorities concerned should consult the experts so that its original design is not affected,” Hasina told the meeting.
The Prime Minister also asked for concentrating more on maintaining the structures in the Parliament area and taking necessary steps in this regard.
She mentioned that this complex is the ‘icon’ of the country and Parliament is the heart of democracy.
APS to the Prime Minister Asif Kabir briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said the meeting discussed the budget of the Parliament Secretariat for the next fiscal (2013-2014).
The estimated budget for the Parliament Secretariat was fixed at Tk 195.42 crore, which is Tk 16.13 crore or 9 percent higher than the previous year.
The revised budget for the secretariat of the running fiscal (2012-13) was Tk 179.29 crore.
Regarding the appointment to the Parliament Secretariat, the Prime Minister said although this Secretariat is independent body, they should consult the recruitment matters with the Public Administration Ministry.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the developed world to increase their supports to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 targets.
Sheikh Hasina also called for giving highest priority to face the natural and man-made disasters in the post-2015 development agenda.
“The world should give the highest priority to the disaster risk reduction as well as climate change mitigation programmes,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the National Consultation on Post- 2015 Development Agenda at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel here this morning.
General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission arranged the consultation.
-With The Independent input
