Five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker of the Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Sunday, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament. The BNP MPs submitted their resignation letters at 12:20 pm,  Mohammad Siraj, MP of Bogura-6, told UNB. The MPs who resigned are: Md. Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md. Mosharof  Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md. Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2 and Rumeen Farhana, from women’s reserved seats. Read more: BNP declares start of ‘simultaneous anti-govt movement’ on Dec 24 Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit resignation to the Speaker today. They will tender their resignation later as they have to submit it in person as per the constitution, said Mohammad Siraj. Speaking to reporters at the Jatiya Sangsad, BNP’s international affairs secretary Rumeen said they submitted their resignation to the Speaker following their demand for dissolution of parliament. “This is just the beginning. Now the other MPs from different political parties who support democracy should also come forward and resign,” she added. Read more: BNP activists, locals complain of internet service disruption in and around Golapbagh rally venue Earlier, Rumeen Farhana announced the decision from the party’s Golapbagh rally on Saturday. The MPs sent their resignation through an email on Saturday. BNP on Saturday unveiled a 10-point charter of demands from Golapbagh rally aimed at unseating the government through a simultaneous movement.

All seven BNP Members of Parliament (MPs) will physically submit their resignation to speaker of Parliament on Sunday. The BNP MPs will submit their resignation letters around 11am, according to BNP sources. Read more: BNP declares start of ‘simultaneous anti-govt movement’ on Dec 24 BNP’s international affairs secretary Rumeen Farhana announced the decision from the party’s Golapbagh rally on Saturday. The MPs who resigned are: Md. Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md. Mosharof Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md. Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2; Md. Harunur Rashid, Chapainawabganj-3; Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, Brahmanbaria-2; and Rumeen Farhana, Women’s Reserved Seat. Read more: BNP’s divisional rally: Heightened security in and around Dhaka The MPs sent their resignation through an e-mail on Saturday.

Parliament on Sunday unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the death of six former MPs. including an ex-minister and some noted personalities. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House in the beginning of the 15th session of the 11th parliament. Read: Parliament goes into session The six former MPs are ex-minister Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu (Chattogram-6 and 9), Dr Mizanul Haque (Kishoreganj-4), Md Fazlul Haque Aspia (Sunamganj-4), Mokbul Hossain (Pabna-2), Ali Osman Khan (Mymensingh-17 and Netrakona-4) and Sheikh Shahidur Rahman (Khulna-4). The House also expressed deep shock at the death of noted personalities, including veteran lawyer Abdul Baset Majumder, noted cultural personalities Dr Enamul Haque and Mahmud Sajjad, renowned journalist, dramatist and poet Rafiqul Haque, chairman of Sylhet Zila Parishad advocate Lutfur Rahman and former cabinet secretary Kazi Shamsul Alam. Read: President summons 15th session of Parliament on Nov 14 Besides, the Jatiya Sangsad expressed profound grief at the death of physicians, health workers, members of the administration, police, political leaders, media people, business and social dignitaries, other staff of the government and private sector, who lost lives in the coronavirus at home and abroad, and those who were killed in the recent Sierra Leone explosion caused by collusion between a fuel tanker and a lorry, and other accidents in different places at home and abroad. Before passing the condolence motion, a one-minute silence was observed and a munajat offered, seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls.

The 5.3 per cent inflation target, set by Bangladesh Bank’s new monetary policy, is not realist as it has been estimated on the basis of a consumption basket developed 16 years ago since when the cost of living has jumped much higher.    This observation was made by leading think-tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at a virtual media briefing on the newly announced monetary policy statement (MPS) on Tuesday. CPD said that the consumption basket used for calculating overall general inflation was created in 2005 and so it does not reflect the current reality and actual prices in the market. Also read: Inflation declines to 5.26 in May “The poor and low income groups are increasingly finding it difficult to meet their requirements in the face of dual blows from—erosion in purchasing and income”, said Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director of CPD in the presentation on the MPS 2021-22. She said that data shows that the 12-month average food and non-food inflation rates have fluctuated in a cyclical pattern over the past several years. “So, the inflation rate has lost its relevance to the real world”, she said, adding that the consumer price index (CPI) of medical care and health expenses increased from 156.1 in July 2012 to 251.9 in June 2021. She noted that the inflation rate of medical care and health expenses increased from 0.18% in April 2020 to 2.42% in May 2020, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Also read: BB unveils monetary policy for Jan-Jun period Dr Fahmida also said the share of transport in actual consumption expenditure was 15% higher than the weight in CPI. CPD distinguished fellow Prof Dr Mustafizur Rahman, director research Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem and senior research fellow Towfiqul Islam Khan also spoke on the occasion. The CPD also said that the target for private sector credit growth at 14.8% is unlikely to be achieved as “it is very high compared to the trend in the recent past”. Indeed credit to the private sector has been largely on a declining trend since Mar 2018 – and is below 10% since November 2019. The Bangladesh Bank on July 29 announced the MPS 2021-22 setting up its different monetary targets with continuing its ongoing expansionary monetary policy amid a cautious stance for the current fiscal year (FY) to help boost recovery of the pandemic-hit economy. The CPD said the poor and low income group people should be provided with direct cash support to create demands in order to make the economic recovery from the shock of the Covid-19. It also suggested easing the conditions for the non-formal sector to ensure bank loans under the stimulus package, saying that the big businesses are taking the full advantage of the government’s financial support while micro and small businesses are far behind in the race.       About the lower private investment inflow, Dr Mustafizur said setting up a special economic zone alone cannot play an effective role to attract private investment.  “There are so many factors like ease of doing business, regulatory support, supportive infrastructure, one-stop service and also skilled manpower which need to be addressed to attract private investment”, he said. Responding to a question on the remittance management, he said the government can issue bonds in foreign currency for mega infrastructure for which it takes foreign loans. “That requirement could be met with these bonds ensuring the investment is safe and return is secured”, he added. About excess bank liquidity of about Tk 2.5 lakh crore, Dr Golam Moazzem said the Bangladesh Bank can take measures through bringing change in different mechanisms of cash reserve ratio CRR and statutory liquidity ratio (SLR). He said a joint monitoring of Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) is essential to ensure that the money provided by the government’s stimulus package is not invested in stock market. 

Terming the members of parliament as a bridge between people and the government, President Abdul Hamid on Monday urged them to stand by people when needed.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Jatiya Party leader GM Quader on Sunday laid emphasis on amending article 70 of the constitution to empower MPs in the House.

Incumbent DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam, and ruling party MPs Haji Mohammad Salim and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday collected Awami League nomination forms for contesting the elections to two Dhaka city corporations.