Parliament on Thursday unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the demise of a sitting MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury and some noted personalities. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House in the beginning of the 12th session of the 11th Parliament. As per the tradition, the day’s business of Parliament was adjourned after the adaptation of the condolence over the death of sitting Awami League MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, who was elected from Sylhet-3 constituency, in order to pay respect to him. Samad Chowdhury, 66, died of Covid-19 in a city hospital on March 12 last. Besides, the House expressed deep shock at the death of PM’s political adviser Hossain Toufique Imam (HT Imam), former Prime Minister Moudud Ahmed (Six-time MP from Noakhali-5 and Bogura-7), former state minister Mohammad Aman Ullah (four-time MP from Mymensingh-11) and three other former MPs. Also read: JS adopts condolence motion at deaths of ex-MPs, noted personalities The three other ex-MPs are Toabur Rahim (ex-member of Ganoparishad and also member of 1st parliament from the then Sylhet-14), Abdul Majid Mandal (MP in 10th Parliament from Siranganj-5) and Monsur Ahmed (two-time MP from Satkhira-4). Parliament also expressed deep shock at the death of noted personalities, including Editor of the daily Janakantha and freedom fighter Atikullah Khan Masud, Chairman of Sikder Group of Industries Zainul Haque Sikder (who is also the father of Parveen Haque Sikder), Language Movement veteran Ali Taher Majumdar, noted columnist and journalist Syed Abul Maksud, senior journalist and former president of Projonmo-71 Shahin Reza Noor, Awami League’s advisory council member Abul Hasnat and former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled. Besides, the House expressed profound grief at the death of those who lost being affected the coronavirus in home and abroad, the 17 people of Pirganj who were killed in the recent road accident at Katakhali in Rajshahi, and the lives lost in accidents in other places at home and abroad. A one-minute silence was observed and a munajat offered seeking the eternal peace to the departed soul. Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah conducted the munajat. Before passing the condolence motion, Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a number of MPs took part in discussions. Also read: JS adopts condolence motion on MP Ismat Ara Sadique’s death The Prime Minister said Samad Chowdhury was a good organiser and politically a very conscious man.   She said Samad got involved with Chhatra League in his student life and he always was engaged in the Awami League’s politics. “He had a great interest in working for people,” she said, adding that the politics of Sylhet has incurred a huge loss with his death. Besides, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan (Panchagarh-2), Opposition chief whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga (Rangpur-1), Awami League MPs Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim (Gopalganj-2), Muhammad Faruk Khan (Gopalganj-1), Nurul Islam Nahid (Sylhet-6), Md Abdus Shahid (Maulvibazar-4), Nesar Ahmed (Maulvibazar-3) and Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman (Sunamganj-4) and BNP MP Md Harunur Rashid (Chapainawabganj-3) also joined the discussion.

The 12th session of Parliament began on Thursday after a 58-day recess.  The session began at 11:00am with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. The House went into the session to meet the Constitutional obligation amid the fresh surge of the Covid-19 infection in Bangladesh. At the outset of the session, the Speaker nominated a five-member panel of chairmen. The panel members are Md Abdul Quddus (Natore-4), Mrinal Kanti Das (Munshiganj-3), Md Nazrul Islam Babu (Narayanganj-2), Md Mujibul Haque (Kishoreganj-3) and Shahadara Mannan (Bogura-1). Also read:JS session goes into session on Jan 18 They will conduct the proceedings of Parliament in chronological order in absence of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. The 12th session of the 11th Parliament will continue for a short period of time due to the growing transmission of Coronavirus. On March 15 last, President Abdul Hamid summoned the session. According to the Constitution, a period exceeding 60 days shall not intervene between the end of one session and the first sitting of Parliament in the next session.  Also read: Parliament goes into winter session Monday The 11th session (the first session in 2021) was prorogued on February 2 last and the House passed six bills during the previous session.  

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned carrying firearms and holding rallies, processions or agitation in and around Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban ahead of the 12th session of the 11th parliament, scheduled to begin April 1. The DMP’s restrictions will be effective from 12am on Wednesday night, police said in a press release on Tuesday. DMP said the ban would be in force until the end of the session. The restrictions have been imposed to maintain law and order in and around the parliament area to ensure undisrupted holding of the coming session. The restricted areas are Mohakhali crossing of Mymensingh Road to Bangla Motor crossing via Old Airport Road, the western part of Bangla Motor Link Road to Saarc Fountain at Sonargaon crossing, the eastern part of Panthapath to Farmgate via Green Road Link Road, Shyamoli crossing to Dhanmondi 16 (old 27) Link Road on Mirpur Road, Rokeya Sarani Link Road to Bijoy Sarani Parjatan crossing via old 9th division (airplane) crossing, the eastern part of Indira Road to Manik Mia Avenue's western part, and restricted parts of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and all the roads and lanes in the area.