Parliament on Sunday adopted a resolution greeting Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury for being elected chairperson of executive committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and president of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Taking part in the motion on thanks, ministers and lawmakers observed that the election of Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury as chiefs of CPA and IPU is a slap to those who do not accept the Janaury 5 general election.
The thanks-giving motion was iinitiated adopted by Chief Whip ASM Firoze and the House adopted the resolution under under rule 147 of Rules of Procedures of Parliament.The lawmakers alleged that different quarters tried to create controversy over the January 5 general poll but the election of the Speaker as chairperson of executive committee of CPA and Saber Chowdhury as president of IPU proved that the democracy exists in the country.
They said the image of the country has been upheld through their election in the CPA and IPU. The lawmakers also asked whether the two achievements did not give legitimacy to the January 5 election.
Suranjit Sengupta said Bangladesh had lost membership of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) thrice during the military rulers–BNP founder late President Ziaur Rahman in 1979, Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad after 1982 and Moeen-U-Ahmed after 1/11 changeover in 2007.
Opposition chief whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury said the achievements of obtaining top position of CPA and IPU was possible as all countries in the world accepted the January 5 poll that had been boycotted by the BNP.
Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said the winning two top positions within a week was a historic achievement for the country.
Faruk Khan, Abdul Matin Khasru , AKM Jahangir Hossain, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdus Shahid , Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Abdul Mannan, Khandaker Ali Ashraf, Shahiduzzaman Sarker, Waresat Ali Badal, Fazilatunnesa Bappi, Nurjahan Begum, Imran Ahmed of Awami League, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Kazi Firoz Rashid, MOshiur Rahman Ranga and Shawkat Chowdhury of Jatiya Party, Rashed Khan Menon of Workers Party, Moinuddin Khan Badal of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and also took part in the discussion.
Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah presided over the sitting while the discussion on thanks-giving motion began at about 4:30pm while the Speaker chaired it later on.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was elected chairperson of executive committee of CPA on October 9 and Saber Hossain Chowdhury, also the chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry of Jute and Textile, as president of IPU on October 16. – Staff Reporter
