United News of Bangladesh

Authorities have issued instructions regarding entry and parking arrangements for invited guests attending the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad at the parliament complex on Thursday. According to a press release, three gates of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban will remain open for invited guests: Manipuripara Gate (Gate-6), Bakultala Gate (Gate-12) and Asad Gate (Gate-1). Guests have been requested to avoid using the Manipuripara Gate as heavy traffic is expected there and instead enter the parliament complex through Bakultala Gate and Asad Gate to help reduce congestion and ensure smooth access. 13th Parliament set to commence with first session Thursday The release also asked guests to park their vehicles at designated locations according to the parking stickers sent with their invitation cards. The stickers include Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Shapla, Bakul, Shiuli and Shimul. Vehicles bearing Padma, Meghna, Jamuna and Shapla stickers will be allowed to park at different locations inside the parliament premises, while those with Bakul, Shimul and Shiuli stickers will be parked at the old Dhaka International Trade Fair ground. Vehicles of electronic and print media organisations will have to park in a single line along the main road of Manik Mia Avenue. All invited guests have been requested to get down from their vehicles at Tunnel Road and then enter the parliament complex. They have also been asked to minimise the time spent getting down from vehicles and ensure that drivers or accompanying persons remain inside the vehicles. Guests and all concerned have been requested to follow the instructions of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s traffic division at the entry gates and designated parking areas.

The BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) on Wednesday authorised Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman to decide the candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. “We have entrusted the Leader of the House with the responsibility of deciding the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. He will take the decision, and we will know it tomorrow,” said Chief Whip Nurul Islam. He came up with the remarks while speaking to reporters at the LD Hall after a meeting of BNP’s parliamentary party in the ruling party’s parliamentary party room on the ninth floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, with Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman in the chair. The first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will begin at 11am on Thursday, when the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are scheduled to be elected. Nurul Islam said the proceedings of Thursday’s sitting will begin with the Speaker’s chair vacant. The session will start with recitation from the Holy Quran. After that, the Leader of the House will propose the name of a senior MP to preside over the sitting temporarily, which will be seconded by another MP. The nominated member will then preside over the session. BPP meets to finalise Speaker, Deputy Speaker candidates Nurul Islam also said 133 ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government will be placed before parliament on Thursday. A special committee will be formed at the sitting to examine the ordinances, he said, adding that the committee will include members from both the treasury bench and the opposition. Replying to a question, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister showed “great generosity” by offering the post of Deputy Speaker to the opposition. “But we have not received any positive response from them so far. If we do, necessary steps will be taken accordingly,” he said. The Chief Whip said they want the 13th parliament to be effective and vibrant where problems will be resolved through discussion and debate.

As the process of forming the 13th Jatiya Sangsad gets underway following the national election, public attention has once again turned to the state privileges enjoyed by members of parliament (MPs). The Election Commission (EC) has published the two gazette notifications of the 297 newly elected members of parliament elected to the 13th Parliament as well as the referendum results. The two gazettes were issued on Friday night by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed. The process for administering the oath to the newly elected lawmakers will now be arranged. Amid this process, the focus has shifted to the wide range of financial benefits, facilities, and special entitlements provided to lawmakers under existing laws. According to official rules, an MP is entitled not only to a monthly salary but also to multiple state-funded allowances and privileges, as outlined in the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order, 1973, and its subsequent amendments. These benefits cover allowances, transport, healthcare, travel, insurance, office expenses and telecommunications. MPs’ Benefits Monthly Salary and Allowances: Basic Salary-Tk 55,000, Constituency allowance-Tk12,500 entertainment allowance-Tk 5,000, transport allowance-Tk 70,000 (including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and driver’s salary), office expense allowance-Tk 15,000, laundry allowance-Tk 1,500, miscellaneous allowance-Tk 6,000. Vehicle Facilities Duty-free import of a car, jeep, or microbus, exempt from customs, VAT, and taxes, access to import a new vehicle under the same scheme after five years, travel Allowances Air, rail, or water travel: 1.5 times the highest class fare, road travel: per-kilometre allowance and domestic travel-Tk120,000 annual travel allowance or travel pass Daily Allowances While on duty daily allowance Tk 750, travel allowance Tk 75. Gazettes of newly elected MPs, referendum results published Attendance at parliamentary or committee sessions: daily allowance Tk 800, travel allowance Tk 200 Medical Facilities Government-level medical care for MPs and their families include monthly medical allowance Tk 700 Insurance Government insurance of Tk 10 lakh in case of death or permanent disability while on duty Optional Grant Fund Up to Tk 5 lakh per year for discretionary use Telecommunication Facilities Official telephone connection at MPs’ residences and monthly telephone and call expenses Tk 7,800 Tax Benefits All allowances and benefits received by MPs are exempt from income tax. These provisions are aimed at supporting MPs in performing their legislative and constituency responsibilities efficiently.