Parliament
Followers of cleric enter Iraqi parliament in show of force
Hundreds of Iraqi protesters breached Baghdad’s parliament Wednesday chanting anti-Iran curses in a demonstration against a nominee for prime minister by Iran-backed parties.
The majority of the protesters were followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The demonstrators, all of them men, were seen walking on tables of the parliament floor, leafing through folders, sitting in the chairs of lawmakers and waving Iraqi flags. The incident raised the stakes in the political struggle for Iraq nearly 10 months after federal elections.
No lawmakers were present. Only security forces were inside the building and they appeared to allow the protesters in with relative ease.
The demonstrators were protesting the recent selection of Mohammed al-Sudani as the official nominee of the Coordination Framework bloc, a coalition led by Iran-backed Shiite parties and their allies.
It was the largest protest since federal elections were held in October, and the second time al-Sadr has used his ability to mobilize masses to send a message to his political rivals this month. Earlier in July, thousands heeded his call for a mass prayer, an event many feared would devolve into destabilizing protests.
Hours after his followers occupied parliament, al-Sadr issued a statement on Twitter telling them their message had been received, and “to return safely to your homes," signaling there would be no further escalation to the sit-in. Shortly after, protesters began making their way out of the parliament building with security forces supervising.
The incident, and al-Sadr's subsequent show of control over his followers, carried an implicit warning to the Framework alliance of a potential escalation to come if the government forms with al-Sudani at the helm.
Read:Iraqi cleric shows power as thousands attend mass prayer
Al-Sadr's ability to mobilize and control his large grassroots following gives him powerful leverage over his rivals. In a similar fashion, his followers stormed the Green Zone in 2016 and entered the country’s parliament building to demand political reform.
Earlier in the day, demonstrators breached Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the parliament and other government buildings, as well as foreign embassies.
Protesters chanted curses against Iran and said, “Sudani, out!”
Riot police had attempted to repel the protesters using water cannons, but demonstrators scaled the cement barrier walls and pulled down slabs using ropes to enter the Green Zone.
The demonstrators walked down the zone's main thoroughfare with little resistance from security forces. One security personnel was seen handing a protester a water bottle.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called for calm and restraint, and for protesters to “immediately withdraw” from the area.
Al-Sadr recently stepped down from the political process despite having won the most seats in the October federal election. Protesters carried portraits of the cleric.
Al-Sudani was selected by State of Law leader and former premier Nouri al-Maliki. Before al-Sudani can face parliament to be seated officially as premier-designate, parties must first select a president. Protesters also chanted: “Maliki, garbage!”
The Framework, in a statement, said they had known of “calls urging chaos, stirring up strife,” within the last 24 hours since nominating al-Sudani.
The United Nations said Iraqis had the right to protest but that it was “essential that demonstrations remain peaceful and comply with the law," in a statement.
Al-Sadr exited government formation talks after he was not able to corral enough lawmakers to get the majority required to elect Iraq’s next president.
By replacing his lawmakers, the Framework leader pushed ahead to form next government. Many fear doing so also opens the doors to street protests organized by al-Sadr's large grass roots following and instability.
India gets its first tribal President
India on Monday got its youngest and first tribal President, as a former female school teacher from a remote village shattered the glass ceiling for holding the country's top constitutional office.
Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as India's 15th President by the Chief Justice at an imposing and colourful ceremony in Parliament, as millions clustered around TV screens in public squares, offices and living rooms to witness the event live.
"Coming from a remote village and being a tribal, I am really honoured to hold this post. This proves that even a poor can dream of becoming India's President. This is the beauty of our democracy," she said, in her inaugural speech.
Indian Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Ministers, and lawmakers attended the oath ceremony at Parliament.
Earlier the 64-year-old was accorded a guard of honour and driven to Parliament in a ceremonial procession accompanied by soldiers mounted on horses.
Read:Droupadi Murmu elected India's first tribal President
On Thursday, Murmu scripted history by being the youngest and first tribal politician to win the presidency.
Murmu, a former state governor who was fielded by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, defeated her main challenger and opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha, a former finance minister, by a huge margin.
Voting to elect India's 15th President was held on Monday, where more than 95% of the eligible 4,500-plus lawmakers across the country exercised their franchise.
In India, the President is elected not directly by the people but by the members of both Houses of Parliament -- the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha -- and state assemblies and federal government-ruled Territories.
Like in Bangladesh, the Indian President is the ceremonial head of state who does not exercise executive powers.
Who's Murmu?
Born in independent India on June 20 in 1958, Murmu completed her graduation in 1979 and began her career as a government employee before becoming a school teacher.
She subsequently made a foray into the eastern Indian state of Odisha's politics, first as a local civic body councillor and then as a legislator.
The two-term legislator went on to become a minister in the Odisha government in 2000. And some 15 years later, Murmu was sworn in as the first woman Governor of the neighbouring eastern state of Jharkhand.
In her personal life, Murmu lost her husband and their two sons. While her husband died of a cardiac arrest, one of her two sons was found dead under mysterious circumstances in 2009. She has a daughter.
Sri Lankan president resigns, Parliament to convene
Sri Lanka’s Parliament speaker says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned and Parliament will convene to choose a new leader after massive protests took over government buildings to force him out of office.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyweardana said Friday that the Parliament will convene Saturday to start the process of electing a new president. He expects to compete the process within seven days.
Their new choice as president will serve the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in 2024. That person could potentially appoint a new prime minister, who would then have to be approved by Parliament.
Rajapaksa fled the country Wednesday amid mounting protests for him to resign. He arrived in Singapore on Thursday and the speaker said Rajapaksa's resignation was effective on that date.
Also read: Protesters retreat as Sri Lankan president sends resignation
“To be validated like this is massive,” said Viraga Perera, an engineer who has been protesting since April and estimated that he has spent 60 or 70 nights there in all. “On a global scale, we have led a movement that toppled a president with minimal force and violence. It’s a mix of victory and relief.”
Protesters who had occupied government buildings retreated Thursday, restoring a tenuous calm in the capital, Colombo. But with a fractured opposition, a solution to Sri Lanka’s many woes seemed no closer.
Abeywardana said he will ensure the process of electing a new president will be swift and transparent. “I request the honorable and loving citizens of this country to create a peaceful atmosphere in order to implement the proper Parliamentary democratic process and enable all members of Parliament to participate in the meetings and function freely and conscientiously," he said Friday.
The protesters accuse Rajapaksa and his powerful political family of siphoning money from government coffers for years and his administration of hastening the country’s collapse by mismanaging the economy. The family has denied the corruption allegations, but Rajapaksa acknowledged that some of his policies contributed to the meltdown.
Also read: Sri Lankan armed forces empowered to use force following clashes
Months of protests reached a frenzied peak over the weekend when demonstrators stormed the president’s home and office and the official residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. On Wednesday, they seized Wickremesinghe’s office.
Images of protesters inside the buildings — lounging on elegant sofas and beds, posing at officials’ desks and touring the opulent settings — captured the world’s attention.
The demonstrators initially vowed to hold those places until a new government was in place, but the movement shifted tactics Thursday, apparently concerned that any escalation in violence could undermine their message following clashes the previous night outside the Parliament that left dozens injured.
“The fear was that there could be a crack in the trust they held for the struggle,” said Nuzly, a protest leader who goes by only one name. “We’ve shown what power of the people can do, but it doesn’t mean we have to occupy these places.”
Devinda Kodagode, another protest leader, told The Associated Press they planned to vacate official buildings after the speaker said he was exploring legal options for the country in the wake of Rajapaksa’s departure.
Visaka Jayaweer, a performing artist, described the bittersweet moment of closing the gate to the presidential palace after the crowds cleared out.
“Taking over his residence was a great moment. It showed just how much we wanted him to step down. But it is also a great relief” to leave, she said. “We were worried if people would act out — many were angry to see the luxury he had been living in when they were outside, struggling to buy milk for their children.”
The country remains a powder keg, and the military warned Thursday that it had powers to respond in case of chaos — a message some found concerning.
Troops in green uniforms and camouflage vests arrived in armored vehicles to reinforce barricades around the Parliament, while protesters vowed to continue holding rallies outside the president’s office until a new government was in place.
Rajapaksa and his wife fled Sri Lanka early Wednesday for the Maldives, slipping away in the night aboard a military plane. On Thursday, he went to Singapore, according to the city-state’s Foreign Ministry. It said he had not requested asylum.
Since Sri Lankan presidents are protected from arrest while in power, it’s likely Rajapaksa wanted to plan his departure while he still had constitutional immunity and access to the plane.
The protests underscored the dramatic fall of the Rajapaksa political clan that has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.
A military strategist whose brutal campaign helped end the country’s 26-year civil war, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, who was president at the time, were hailed by the island’s Buddhist Sinhalese majority. Despite accusations of wartime atrocities, including ordering military attacks on ethnic Tamil civilians and abducting journalists, Rajapaksa remained popular among many Sri Lankans. He has continually denied the allegations.
The shortages of basic necessities have sown despair among Sri Lanka’s 22 million people. The country’s rapid decline was all the more shocking because, before the recent crisis, the economy had been expanding, with a growing, comfortable middle class.
It was not immediately clear if Singapore would be Rajapaksa’s final destination, but he has previously sought medical care there, including undergoing heart surgery.
Italian Premier Draghi's resignation is rebuffed , for now
Italian Premier Mario Draghi offered to step down Thursday after a populist coalition partner refused to vote for a key bill in Parliament, but the nation's president quickly rebuffed him, leaving one of Western Europe's main leaders at the helm for now.
The rejection of the tendered resignation left in limbo the future of Draghi's 17-month-old government, officially known as a national unity coalition, but with its survival sorely tested by increasingly sharp divergences within the coalition.
Draghi’s broad coalition government — which includes parties from the right, the left, the center and the populist 5-Star Movement — was designed to help Italy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Hours earlier Thursday, Draghi and his government won a confidence vote, 172-39, in the Senate despite the refusal by the 5-Star Movement to back the bill, which earmarked 26 billion euros (dollars) to help consumers and industries struggling with soaring energy prices. But the dramatic snub, orchestrated by 5-Star leader Giuseppe Conte, Draghi’s predecessor, did its damage.
Shortly before heading to the Quirinal presidential palace to tender his resignation, Draghi declared: “The majority of national unity that has sustained this government from its creation doesn’t exist any more."
Also read: Italy keen to supply LNG to Bangladesh
But President Sergio Mattarella told Draghi to instead go back to Parliament and see if he can still garner solid support, a palace statement said.
The next showdown in Parliament is set for July 20, when Draghi will formally pitch for support ahead of a confidence vote — this time not on a specific bill but on his government's very viability.
“Now there are five days to work so that Parliament confirms its confidence in the Draghi government and Italy emerges as rapidly as possible from the dramatic unraveling” of the last hours, tweeted Enrico Letta, the head of the Democratic Party, a Draghi ally and a former premier.
In Brussels, the European Union's finance commissioner, Paolo Gentiloni, a former Italian premier, said officials there were “following with worried astonishment” the potential unraveling of Draghi's coalition.
The uncertainty over Draghi's staying power also appeared to rattle the markets. The Milan stock exchange lost 3.44% on Thursday.
If Draghi can't solidly stitch back together a durable coalition, Mattarella could pull the plug on Parliament, setting the stage for an early election as soon as late September. Currently, Parliament’s term expires in spring 2023.
Also read: Tourists, rejoice! Italy, Greece relax COVID-19 restrictions
Mattarella had tapped the former European Central Bank chief — who was known as “Super Mario” for his “whatever it takes” rescue of the euro — to pull Italy out of the pandemic and lay the groundwork to make use of billions in European Union pandemic recovery funds.
The 5-Stars, who have lost significant support in recent local elections and have slumped in opinion polls, are in disarray.
In the measure Thursday, the 5-Stars opposed a provision to allow Rome to operate a garbage incinerator on the outskirts of the chronically trash-choked Italian capital.
In the debate, some senators praised Draghi as a pivotal figure in Europe as Russia wages war against Ukraine, especially with the impending departure of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Center-right Sen. Antonio Saccone thundered that the 5-Stars were “doing a favor” to Russian President Vladimir Putin by causing political instability.
Recently, Conte had waffled for a while over whether to keep supporting military aid for Ukraine, but eventually backed Draghi on pledging fresh assistance.
Being in a government “is not like picking up a menu and deciding, antipasto, no, gelato, yes,″ said Emma Bonino, who leads a tiny pro-Europe party.
Draghi has governed with the support of virtually all of Italy’s main parties, with the exception of the fast-rising far-right Brothers of Italy party. The potential implosion of Draghi's coalition triggered fresh demands by the party's leader, Giorgia Meloni, for an early election that she hopes will be her springboard to becoming Italy's first woman premier.
Giovanni Orsina, a history professor and director of the school of government at Rome's LUISS university, correctly predicted that Mattarella would ask Draghi to find a new, workable majority.
“We've got the pandemic, we got the war, we have inflation, we have the energy crisis. So certainly this is not a good moment,” Orsina said. "Mattarella believes, rightly, that his mission is to safeguard stability.”
Among Draghi’s achievements has been keeping Italy on track with reforms that the EU has made a condition for the country to receive 200 billion euros (dollars) in pandemic recovery assistance. Much of that EU funding is already allocated, suggesting it won't be lost even amid government instability.
Sri Lanka's new president to be elected on July 20: speaker
Sri Lanka's speaker of parliament on Monday said political party leaders have decided to elect a new president on July 20 through a vote in parliament.
In a statement, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that following a meeting with all political party leaders, it was decided to convene parliament sessions on July 15 and inform the parliament that there was a vacancy for the presidency.
Read: Sri Lanka in political vacuum as talks go on amid crisis
Nominations for the presidency will be called for on July 19 and a vote will be taken on July 20 to elect a new president, the speaker said.
Party leaders also decided to form an all-party government under the new president and take steps to continue the supply of essential services.
Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday said he will step down from the presidency on July 13 amid economic and political instability.
Bangladesh enjoying a golden age of information flow: Speaker
Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has said that Bangladesh is going through a free and golden time of information flow.
The speaker made the remarks while virtually participating in the BJC Awards ceremony on Saturday with the protection of journalism in the public interest.
BJC President Rezwanul Haque presided over the function.
The Speaker said the Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC) has been able to ensure the good standing of journalists by working for their professional development, safety and development of the working environment since 2019. Today’s event is commendable keeping in view the protection of journalism in the public interest. It is such a platform that is playing a leading role in various activities including the welfare of the members, enhancement of skills, risk management, creation of new opportunities in the workplace, and encouragement of journalists in research work.
BJC awards in five categories will also inspire the journalists to work in the public interest, she hopes. "The range of media in the country is now very wide and media has become a part and parcel of daily life."
Read: Speaker joins IPU assembly
The Journalist Center Board of Trustees has also been formed which is playing an important role in the advancement of the media.
Speaker said the government has taken various steps including a journalist-friendly policy and the formation of a wage board. The present government is determined to ensure a conducive working environment for the media, she added
BJC honorary members including Member Secretary Shakil Ahmed spoke on the occasion.
Various dignitaries and media personnel were also present on the occasion.
No one from JP inquired about my condition during stay in hospital: Raushon
Leader of the Opposition in parliament Raushon Ershad on Saturday bemoaned that no one from the Jatiya Party inquired about her condition during her long stay at a hospital in Thailand.
Speaking at a views exchange meeting with party leaders and activists at a hotel in the city, she also said Jatiya Party has been in a mess following the death of its founder and her husband HM Ershad.
“I had been under treatment for over long six months at a hospital in Thailand. No one from the party inquired about me. But I inquired about all,” the opposition leader said.
She, however, said two, who were expelled from the party, tried to know her health condition and arranged different prayer sessions at mosques and other worship places seeking her recovery.
Also read: Raushon Ershad returns home from Thailand
Raushon, also the chief patron of the Jatiya Party, said Jatiya Party could have been in a different position had HM Ershad remained alive.
She said it is necessary to bring back those who have been left out of the Jatiya Party or left the party at different times. “Otherwise, we will fall far behind.”
Besides, the Jatiya Party leader said the new generation needs to be inducted into the party to make it as stronger as Awami League and BNP. “Or else, we won’t be able to survive in politics. ”
She also said the organizational strength of the Jatiya Party will have to be enhanced with the united efforts of all its leaders and activists.
Raushon said she could not hold back her tears seeing so many people there at the airport to greet her as she returned home.
Earlier on June 27, Raushon returned home from Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, after nearly seven and a half months of stay there for medical treatment.
She also joined the Parliament session on Thursday.
Her son Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad MP (Rangpur-3) his mother is now fine, but very weak.
“She has problems in her legs and still can’t walk properly. It may take time for her to gain back her strength. She needs more physiotherapy,” he said.
Saad said Raushon will also go to Bangkok for follow-up treatment on July 4 next.
On November 5 last year, Raushon was flown to Thailand by an air ambulance as her health condition turned critical.
Also read: Raushon doing well, set to return home Monday: GM Quader
Earlier, Raushon Ershad, 78, underwent treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) as she fell ill seriously due to old age complications.
Parliament passes new national budget by voice vote
The Parliament on Thursday passed the Tk 678,064 crore national budget for the fiscal year 2022-23. It is effective from Friday.
The theme of the budget is 'Return to the Path of Development Leaving the COVID-19 Behind' and to overcome the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war on the economy.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal moved the Appropriations Bill, 2022 seeking a budgetary allocation of Tk 883751,81,97,000 crore which was passed by voice vote.
Earlier on Wednesday, the House passed the Finance Bill 2022 with some changes.
Following the proposal mooted in the House by the Finance Ministry for the parliamentary approval of appropriation of fund for meeting necessary development and non-development expenditures of the government, the ministers concerned placed justifications for the expenditures by their respective ministries through 59 demands for grant.
Earlier, the House rejected by voice vote a total of 664 cut-motions that stood in the name of opposition members on 59 demands for grants for different ministries.
A total of thirteen MPs from Jatiya Party, BNP, Gono Forum and Independent submitted their cut-motions on the budget.
READ: PM in JS: Measures taken to make next parliamentary polls more acceptable
They are Kazi Firoze Rashid, Rustam Ali Farazi, Mujibul Huq, Fakhrul Imam, Pir Fazlur Rahman, Shamim Haider Patwari, Begum Rawshan Ara Mannan, Ponir Uddin Ahmed, Harun Ur Rashid, Mosharrof Hossain, Mokabbir Khan, Rumeen Farhana and Rezaul Karim Bablu.
They were, however, allowed to participate in the discussion on Election Commission Secretariat, Public Security Division, Health Services Division and Secondary and Higher Education Division.
Later, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury applied guillotine to quicken the process of passing the demands for grants for different ministries.
Opposition and independent MPs were present at the House when the Appropriation Bill was passed in Parliament and they did not object to the passage of the bill.
The finance minister on June 9 placed a Tk 678,064 crore-national budget for FY 2022-23 beginning July 1.
The budget kept the GDP growth target at 7.5 per cent and the GDP size estimated at Tk44.50 lakh crore.
The revenue target is set at Tk4.33 lakh crore, while the budget deficit is Tk2.42 lakh crore or 5.4 per cent of GDP. The average inflation in the budget was kept at 5.6 per cent.
Raushan hails Padma Bridge as a symbol of self-respect
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushan Ershad on Wednesday hailed the Padma Bridge as a “symbol of our self-respect” and not just an infrastructure.
The Jatiya Party leader said this while taking part in the general discussion on the proposed budget for 2022-23 in the House.
"There was a lot of criticism centering it. The dream has finally come true. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the prime minister,” she said on her first appearance in the House in about a year.
Read:PM: Conspiracy delayed construction of Padma Bridge by 2 years
Raushan returned home from Thailand on Monday after seven months of treatment.
She thanked Hasina for her brave decision to build the bridge overcoming all hurdles.
"There was a lot of criticism centering it. The dream has finally come true. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the prime minister,” she said.
Raushan urged the government to take long-term steps to find a permanent solution to the country’s flood problem.
PM: Conspiracy delayed construction of Padma Bridge by 2 years
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the construction of the Padma Bridge was delayed by two years due to conspiracy by a vested interest group.
The prime minister inaugurated the much-cherished bridge, the longest in the country, on June 25. Bangladesh self-financed the mega project after it was shunned by the World Bank on unproved allegation of corruption.
"The 42 pillars of the Padma Bridge are the reflection of a courageous Bangladesh," she told the Parliament while responding to a tabled question from Marina Jahan, an Awami League lawmaker from Sirajganj.
Read: Set up commission to identify plotters against Padma Bridge project, HC tells govt
PM Hasina said: "Our passion, our creativity, our courage, our tolerance and our commitment are involved with this Padma Bridge. We had been stubborn in building the bridge."
"At last we saw the light emerging through the darkness. Red, blue, green and golden lights are shining over the Padma,” she said.
Hasina, also leader of the House said, the conspiracy started when the tender process for hiring a contractor for the construction of the Padma Bridge got underway.
She said the World Bank, ADB, JICA and IDB had suspended loan agreements alleging corruption in the process of recruiting consulting firms to oversee the construction of various packages of the project.
“In 2017, when allegations of a corruption conspiracy were proved false in a court in Toronto, Canada, the World Bank announced a return to the project," she said.
But, she said, in the interest of the country and the people, we took the bold decision to implement the Padma Bridge with the government's own funding instead of taking the World Bank loan.