United News of Bangladesh

A two-day training workshop organised by the BNP for its Members of Parliament (MPs) ahead of the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad began on Friday. BNP Chairman, Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the workshop at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan at around 10:30am. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said Tarique Rahman joined the training workshop with BNP lawmakers. The opening session was attended by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and AZM Zahid Hossain, among other senior leaders. Tarique Rahman delivered the welcome speech at the programme. His daughter Zaima Rahman was also present at the workshop. BNP leaders said the workshop will brief newly elected MPs on parliamentary procedures, rules of conduct, bill drafting and review, analysis of budget documents and the functioning of parliamentary committees. Experienced lawmakers will share their experiences with the new MPs to help them carry out their duties effectively in parliament, they said, adding that the main aim of the workshop is to strengthen the efficiency of the government and the ruling party in parliamentary activities. The first session of the 13th parliament will begin at 11am on March 12 after President Mohammed Shahabuddin convened the session on February 23. BNP organised the workshop to prepare its MPs for the upcoming parliamentary session. Parliamentary experts, academics and senior lawmakers will discuss the responsibilities and roles of MPs and cabinet members to ensure the effective functioning of parliament. The two-day workshop has been arranged in several sessions. On the first day, ministers, state ministers and advisers joined the morning session, while MPs from parts of Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka and Faridpur divisions attended the afternoon session. On the second day, MPs from Dhaka district, Mymensingh, Faridpur and the remaining areas of Dhaka division will attend the morning session, while MPs from Sylhet, Cumilla and Chattogram divisions will take part in the afternoon session. A total of 209 BNP lawmakers were elected in the 13th parliamentary election, including 146 who are serving as MPs for the first time. A senior BNP leader said the workshop will also guide MPs on how to raise points of order, take part in debates on bills, present problems from their constituencies in parliament, discuss the President’s speech and ensure regular attendance during parliamentary sessions.