Jasad President Hasanul Haque Inu today proposed formation of a parliamentary committee to review the constitution — to remove the issues that conflict with its fundamental principles. He proposed to make the Prime Minister the head of that committee and include members from all political parties represented in the parliament. He made the proposal while participating in a discussion on the motion brought by the parliament on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the Jatiya Sangsad. Parliament Leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday moved the motion. Harshly criticising BNP-Jamaat, Inu said that BNP and Jamaat, who “practice corrupt politics”, have threatened to completely change the constitution with their so-called 27-point and 10-point demands. He said that BNP is still talking in favour of their misdeeds committed after 1975. “BNP is talking about Bangladesh, but there is Pakistan in its heart. BNP is actually Pakistan's proxy player in Bangladeshi politics,” he added. Inu said that BNP wants to “destroy the constitution and bring back the razakars in politics.” The former information minister said that the Prime Minister gave more importance to the formation of a sovereign government after returning to the country. “The history after that is the history of Sheikh Hasina's leadership… history of Sheikh Hasina's success. She was able to bring back the parliamentary system,” he said. The president of Jasad, a partner of the 14-party alliance, said that Sheikh Hasina took the flag of unity in the face of all criticisms and formed 14 parties and grand alliance in 2008, canceling the “Minus 2” theory and bringing the strength of the Liberation War to power with a massive number of votes. Inu said that the Prime Minister is moving forward with the plan to make the country ‘Smart Bangladesh’, which requires modern administration and a more participatory democratic parliamentary system. Read more: Bringing any party to election is not government’ responsibility: Minister He said a parliamentary committee should be led by Sheikh Hasina to amend the constitution by taking into account the proposals that are being discussed in the political arena through a more participatory system. He suggested: “Amending Article 70 by excluding the No Confidence Bill and Finance Bill and the important Defense Bill, giving MPs more power to make laws, opening up the standing committees of parliament, establishing full authority of all local government representatives and amending Articles 59 and 60 of the Constitution.” He advocated for compelling the state to implement universal healthcare, education system, food system and social security system and the right to universal access to the internet as a fundamental right of the constitution and review the appointment and impeachment of judges. “The state has no gender, religion,” Inu said. Consideration should be given to abolishing what is in conflict with the basic structure of the constitution, he said. “I propose formation of a special committee headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to review the constitution with all the political parties that have representation in the parliament,” he added.  

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Broadcast Ministry on Sunday got another 90 days to examine Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill 2022. This is for the third time that the chairman of the parliamentary body Hasanul Huq Inu sought time in parliament as the committee couldn’t complete the scrutiny within the stipulated time. The House unanimously approved the committee chief’s proposal for extension of the time. On March 28 last year, Information and Broadcast Minister Hasan Mahmud placed the bill and it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on the respective ministry for scrutiny of the proposed law. The committee earlier in June and August last year sought 60 days for scrutiny of the bill. Also read: Parliament’s winter session begins on January 5 According to the source, the JS committee did not sit for a single meeting till now. The wages and benefits of journalists, employees and press workers, artists of broadcast, online, and print media outlets would be fixed under the proposed law. As per the bill Journalists will be regarded as media professionals, not as workers. The wage board will be applicable for journalists and employees of all the media outlets, including print and electronic, as per the Bill. According to the bill, the minimum working hours for media employees will be 48 hours in a week, while the casual leave will be 15 days instead of 10 days and the earned leave will be 100 days instead of 60 days annually. If anybody works beyond the stipulated time, he or she will be entitled to overtime pay. Besides, the festival leave will be 10 days in a year, recreation leave will be 15 days after every three years, and the maternity leave will be six months in place of the existing eight weeks. If anyone or organisation violates the provisions of the bill, s/he will be fined Tk 50,000-Tk 5 lakh. The government will be able to cancel the licences or registration of the media. The owners of media outlets will also face punishment for violation of the law. If anyone or any organisation violates the provisions of the bill, he/she will face monetary fine or imprisonment. Once the new law is passed in parliament, jobs of media employees will no longer be regulated under the labour law. Currently, journalists and employees of media houses are regarded as “workers” under the labour law. According to the proposed law, a wage board will be formed for the media personnel. The wage board will fix salaries and allowances of media personnel in line with the salary scale of the government employees and it will be applicable to the owners of all media outlets.    

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Wednesday recommended the government to incorporate oceanography in the curricula from grade-I to higher secondary level. The recommendation came from the 15th meeting of the committee, held at Parliament Building with its chairman AFM Ruhal Haque in the chair, said a press release. In the meeting, the committee of the 11th parliament reviewed the implementation progress of its previous decisions. Read more: Parliamentary Committee suggests reopening of Sonamasjid land port for immigration The parliamentary watchdog asked the government to implement its recommendations made in the previous meetings. Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman joined the meeting on an invitation of the committee’s chief. Committee members Iqbalur Rahim, Shafiqul Azam Khan, Mozaffar Hossain, Sherin Ahmed and Selima Ahmad attended the meeting. Read more: Parliamentary body for increasing DNA, dope test labs

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs Ministry on Sunday recommended raising monthly maternity allowance for poor rural women to Tk 1,000 from Tk 800. The committee also recommended the ministry for taking necessary steps for allocating five computers alongside the allocation of five sewing machines against each Member of Parliament (MP). Also read: ELLA Pad’s zero waste initiative: 12 rural women display green products The recommendations came from the 31st meeting of the committee at the Parliament Bhaban. The chairperson of the parliamentary body Meher Afroze (Chumki) presided over the meeting, said a parliament release. The committee again asked for formulation of different area-wise policies for all the hostels (for working women) under the Women's Affairs Department. Also read:Paperfly to deliver rural women products across Bangladesh Committee members Shabnam Jahan, Lutfun Nesa Khan and Shahadara Mannan attended the meeting. High officials from the ministry, the department, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and Joyeeta Foundation were present.

Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Thursday recommended the government for arrangement of adequate number of DNA labs and dope test labs for sake of disposal of rape and drugs cases.

The Fisheries and Livestock Ministry has taken different measures to produce six lakh metric tonnes of fish in the current fiscal year of 2020-21.