Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury believes the option for a dialogue on how to hold the upcoming general elections is still open, despite the BNP withdrawing the adjournment motion in Parliament.“There will be limited scope for discussing opposition proposals during the budget discussion,” Sharmin said on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the BNP has itself closed all options for discussion on a caretaker government by withdrawing the adjournement motion.
“Parliament sessions will run for some time after passage of the budget. There will be opportunities for discussions (on the caretaker) at that time .” she added.
The new Speaker reiterated giving ample scope to the opposition for discussing any issue of public importance in the Parliament.
Shirin Sharmin, Bangladesh’s first ever female Speaker, has been suggesting negotiations between the two major political parties to end the current logjam since she took charge last month.
The BNP withdrew the motion for revival of the caretaker system on Monday when the 18th session of ninth Parliament started. Noakhali-1 MP AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon had placed the motion before the Parliament Secretariat on May 22.
The motion was submitted for discussion under Section 62 of the Rules of Procedures of Parliament, saying the caretaker government system should be restored for the sake of a free and fair election.
Speaking on “Gender mainstreaming in Bangladesh Parliament” in a city hotel, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury dismissed allegations that BNP lawmakers dont get opportunity to speak in the House.
“There is no way you can be partial when you sit on the Speaker’s chair,” she emphasised.
BNP lawmakers walked out thrice since returning to the Parliament on June 3 after a 83-day boycott.
On Wednesday, they blamed the walkout on inadequate opportunity to speak up.
(Source: bdnews24.com)
