Parliament
1st session of 12th Parliament prorogued
The maiden session of the 12th Parliament that started on January 30 was prorogued after 22 working days.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury read out the prorogation of the President at 9:03pm.
BNP is Azrael for Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells parliament
Earlier, the House unanimously adopted the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech in Parliament.
A total of 268 MPs participated in the thanksgiving motion that lasted around 39 hours, according to the sources at the parliament secretariat.
GM Quader slams election process, mocks ruling AL
President Mohammed Shahabuddin delivered speech in Parliament in the first sitting of this session in line with the constitution.
Two bills titled “Speedy Trial Act” and “Offshore Banking Bill” were passed in this session.
Offshore Banking Act passed by voice vote in Parliament
A total of 86 questions were received for the Prime Minister while she answered 45 questions. The session received 1,822 questions for different ministries while the number of the answered questions was 1080.
GM Quader slams election process, mocks ruling AL
Opposition leader GM Quader on Tuesday said on Tuesday that there were three types of elections in the 12th parliamentary elections.
“In some places the results of the elections were predetermined and resultsheets were pre-prepared,” he said.
BNP is Azrael for Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells parliament
Quader made the statement during the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech in Parliament.
He said that in some areas all elections have been fair and there was no disturbance. Elections were generally uncontested as there were no strong opponents.
Would be good if Muslim countries can launch common currency like EU’s euro: PM Hasina
“The government was sincere about the election. The election was 100 percent fair. But attendance was low,” he said.
The Jatiya party chairman termed the second type election as free style.
Offshore Banking Act passed by voice vote in Parliament
“There muscle power and money were used freely to capture polling centres,” he said.
Regarding the third type of election, the opposition leader said that it was alleged by his party men.
“Thr result was pre-determined and the sheet was made in advance,” he said.
MPs from the treasury bench and the Independent MPs were seen making hue and cry at that time. He gave a smile and said, “That might not happen.”
Quader said that when all the parties come to election and vote without any hindrance, even if casting of 15 percent vote is acceptable.
“If all major parties including Awami League and the BNP participate in the election, they will get 90-95 percent votes at this moment. Participatory elections are difficult unless Awami League and BNP come together,” he said.
Talking about the 42 percent vote in the last election, he said that considering the scenario, if casting is 42 percent, there should be an eight-hour queue in front of all the polling centres.
“But it did not happen,” he said amid huge uproar from the AL MPs.
Quader said that the 12th national elections could be considered as valid in line with the constitution and existing laws.
“It is legally valid. No one declared illegal. But the vast majority of people feel that it is not well defined, and it does not accurately reflect public opinion,” he said.
He said that laws are widely violated during election time.
“Those who were supposed to look after these issues avoided and also assisted to breach in some cases,” he said.
He apprehended that after this election, apart from Awami League, all the other parties that are connected with people will be able to survive with their own policy ideals.
“I fear that politics is now heading towards an uncertain future,” he said.
He mentioned that corruption has “flooded the country” and It has been going on for quite some time.
“No work is done without corruption. It is the curse for every society. Suffering increases due to the continuous corruption. It hinders the development of the society,” he said.
At this stage the opposition leader quoted a statement of the Minister of Local Government.
Regarding journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder, Quader mentioned it as an example of injustice and said that the statements of the government officials in this regard may encourage delaying the investigation. He advised to be careful about this.
About the price hike of essentials Quader said few people import these items as part of a syndicate.
He complained that these businessmen are directly or indirectly involved in the policy making of the government.
He also said that the government is a hostage in their hands “because it has no other options.”
BNP is Azrael for Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells parliament
Coming down heavily on BNP for unleashing arson violence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said BNP has become Azrael for Bangladesh.
“Those who are involved in such kinds of incidents can’t be pardoned. They must face punishment,” she said.
GM Quader slams election process, mocks ruling AL
The Leader of the House said this while taking part in the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech and thus delivering her valedictory speech simultaneously in the maiden session of the 12th parliament.
During her speech, an audio-visual presentation was screened depicting the terrible scenario of the violence and fire incidents unleashed by BNP-Jamaat jote in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023.
Would be good if Muslim countries can launch common currency like EU’s euro: PM Hasina
She said BNP has continued terrorist activities day after day. Many are still leading a miserable life sustaining burn injuries in the arson violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat jote, she added.
About the allegation that a huge number of BNP men are politically arrested, she questioned what is called political prisoners (Rajbondi) and how those who killed people by burning them through fire can be political prisoners. They are rather terrorists, militants and criminals.
PM receives Joy Bangla Concert banner and poster
“None are arrested due to political reasons. Those who remain arrested are either order-givers, directly engaged in the incidents or financers. So, none of the financers, order-givers or those who are directly engaged won’t be spared,” she said.
The PM asked the members of parliament to pay heed to quick deposition of witnesses and documents of the cases filed in connection with arson violence in their respective areas for the sake of quick disposal of the cases and ensuring punishment for the perpetrators.
Referring to the Israel attack on Gaza hospitals, Hasina said Israel kills children and women. “The character of the BNP is the same as it does here what Israel is doing in Palestine. BNP has become Azrael for Bangladesh,” she said.
The first session of the current parliament, which was formed through the January 7 general election, began on January 30.
The prime minister said the country's democratic trend will continue and Bangladesh will continue marching forward at an indomitable pace.
“There will be no benefit by lodging complaints at home and abroad. And the country won’t run on what the foreigners say. We’ve seen elections of all countries,” she said, adding that none can hinder the progress of Bangladesh.
She said the January 7 general election was held in a very peaceful manner and the people spontaneously cast their votes in the election. Larger number of women and fresh voters exercised their franchise in the election.
“Such fair election as this was not held in the past,” said Hasina.
In the next five years, the Awami League government would implement its election manifesto announced before the general election.
“It is our only vow that in our five-year tenure, we’ll implement the promises we announced in the election manifesto,” she said, adding that the election promises would be reflected in the upcoming national budget.
Noting that her new cabinet has taken some decisions, she said the government will take and implement plans for the welfare of the country and will complete the ongoing schemes quickly.
The premier said the government would also take effective measures to control inflation.
The cabinet has also taken a decision for keeping the commodity prices at tolerable levels during Ramadan by controlling the prices and ensuring the normal supply of these items.
The PM said the government would continue its ‘zero tolerance policy against corruption,’ ensure transparency and accountability in public procurement, ensure right persons would be beneficiaries of the social safety programmes, create new entrepreneurs, recruit in the vacant posts in the government services, diversify export basket, produce new products, search new export markets for Bangladeshi goods, promote development of agro-processed goods and industry, and ensure the facilities and incentives for leather, jute goods and other goods as now the readymade garments enjoy.
Chunnu alleges lack of coordination in fire safety drives
Jatiya Party MP elected from Kishoreganj and Opposition Chief Whip Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Tuesday alleged lack of coordination in the drives against risky and unauthorised buildings operating amid fire risk.
“A magistrate went and destroyed a shop. Another goes and says stop. The authorities need to take a concerted, slow and steady approach in conducting fire safety drives,” he said.
He said while participating in an unscheduled discussion in Parliament.
Referring to the fire incident on Bailey Road, the Secretary General of Jatiya Party said that he does not know what steps have been taken by the government after the fire incident on Bailey Road.
“But I have seen that various departments are working so quickly,” he said.
He said that some 10,106 buildings are risky in Dhaka city and among those eight markets are risky.
“If safety measures are not taken after discussion with the owners and builders of these buildings, another accident may happen at any time,” he said.
Ruling party MP elected from reserved women seat Tarana Halim said that after such a fire in old Dhaka, decision was taken to shift the chemical factories but the local people didn’t cooperate.
She requested all the government departments to do their works in a coordinated way. “And people will support it. It will save their lives.”
Parliament votes to make speedy trial law permanent
The Speedy Trial (amendment) Bill 2024 was passed in parliament on Tuesday aiming to make it a permanent legislation instead of implementing it step by step.
Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan Kamal moved the bill and it was passed by voice vote.
The main opposition Jatiya Party strongly opposed the bill saying that the law is used to oppress the opposition.
Three JP MPs—Mujubul Haque Chunnu, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Masud Uddin Chowdhury who took part in the discussion on the bill demanded to send the bill to a committee for eliciting public opinion. But their proposal was rejected by voice vote.
Participating in the discussion of the bill, Chunnu said that when the BNP-Jamaat government passed the law in 2002, then opposition Awami League said it was an oppressive black law. This law can be used to harass citizens for political reasons or for any reason if the government wants.
“Now you have kept that law. I do not know why? When you will not be in power, someone else will come to power and their intention might not be good,” he said.
Chunnu requested the government not to make the law permanent. Instead, he suggested increasing the tenure of the law by one or two years. Otherwise, the government may have to repent for it in future.
Hafiz Uddin said if anyone digs a hole, s/he has to fall into that hole. Today, BNP has fallen into that hole. Now Awami League is making the law permanent.
In reply, the home boss said there was an anarchic situation in Bangladesh when the law was passed. There were various types of crimes at that time and because of that the then government might have enacted it.
“I think the purpose of the law was to give people instant justice. The main objective was to punish the criminals speedily”, he also said.
The home minister said that the bill was not intended to harm anyone. No political leader can say that h/she was punished under this law.
The Act was first enacted in 2002 for two years. Later duration of the law was extended in seven phases. The law was last amended in 2019 and its duration was extended. Before today’s passage the law is expire on April 9.
The government has decided to make the law permanent without extending it. This decision was taken in the cabinet on January 29. After the approval of the cabinet, the bill was placed in parliament today.
The bill does not propose any amendment other than making the law permanent. Therefore, the all the existing sections of the law will remain as it is now.
In the objective of the bill, the home minister said, the Speedy Trial Act was enacted in 2002 in a bid to provide speedy trial in serious offences like extortion, creating obstacles during the movement of vehicles, damaging vehicles, destroying immovable and immovable property, robbery, banditry, creating terror and anarchic situations, buying tenders and to improve the law and order situation of the country.
In order to keep the overall law and order situation of the country normal and for further improvement, it is necessary to make this law permanent without extending it again and again at the end of the period, the home minister said in a written statement.
Indictment under this law can result in two to five years of imprisonment with hard labour along with fines. The trials are carried out by multiple speedy tribunals in every district.
Offences that fall under the Speedy Trial Act are supposed to be settled in 120 days. In case of failure to do so, another 60 days can be added to the term.
Dhaka's waterbodies on the way to extinction: LGRD Minister tells JS
LGRD Minister Tazul Islam on Tuesday admitted in Parliament that waterbodies in the densely populated capital city of Dhaka are on the way to gradual extinction.
The minister came up with the statement in Parliament while replying to a query of ruling Awami League MP elected from Noakhali Morshed Alam.
He mentioned that activities are going on to ensure water-flow through opening up the water bodies of Dhaka. In line with the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Rajuk, City Corporations, and Dhaka Deputy Commissioner are continuously active to implement such activities.
The minister also said activities are going on to renovate canals and free those from grabbers in a bid to increase sources of water.
Bill enabling village courts to impose fine up to Tk 3 placed in JS
While replying to another query of AL MP elected from Feni Nizam Uddin Hazari, the minister said no sustainable or coordinated programme was taken by the two city corporations of Dhaka to solve the water logging in the capital.
In reply to a query of independent MP from Dhaka Saiful Islam, LGRD Minister said the total number of water supply vehicles of Dhaka WASA is 40, while a process is going on to purchase seven water supply vehicles.
Is market syndicate more powerful than govt, asks Anisul Islam Mahmud
Meanwhile Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, who is in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office in parliamentary affairs, responding to a question of AL MP elected from Bhola Nurunnabi Chowdhury informed the House that the total number of foreign funded NGOs are 2612. Of those, 268 are foreign and 2344 are locals.
Bill enabling village courts to impose fine up to Tk 3 placed in JS
The 'Village Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2024' was placed in Parliament on Tuesday empowering the village courts to impose fine up to Tk 3 lakh.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister M Tazul Islam placed the bill and it was sent to the respective scrutiny committee for further examination. The committee was asked to submit its report within two months.
A village court comprises five members, including the union parishad chairman.
In some cases, the court cannot function if any member remains absent.
According to the draft law, if a vote occurs on a disputed matter in the absence of a member, and an equal number of votes are cast in favor of two sides, then the party gaining the chairman's vote will be declared victorious.
Is market syndicate more powerful than govt, asks Anisul Islam Mahmud
Additionally, in some instances of the previous law, the term 'minor' is being replaced with 'child'.
In 2013, by amending the Village Court Act, the government strengthened the court allowing it to impose fines up to Tk75,000.
According to the objective of the Bill, Village Courts Ordinance, 1976 was enacted to ensure speedy and easy settlement of minor disputes of local people in rural areas.
Later, the Village Courts Act, 2006 was enacted by repealing the Ordinance and some sections of the Act were amended in 2013.
The Government is working to promote the concept and process of alternative dispute resolution in minor disputes to reduce the pressure on the institutional justice system and to ensure easy and speedy access to justice for the poor and disadvantaged people.
238,579 teachers appointed for primary schools in last 12 years
Village Court is a semi-formal dispute resolution mechanism founded on the concept of alternative dispute resolution.
Latif Siddiqui leaves House for 10 minutes over time allocation
Former Awami League Presidium Member and independent MP elected from Tangail Abdul Latif Siddiqui on Monday withdrew himself from parliamentary business for 10 minutes, saying that he was given less time for speaking on the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech.
The former minister from Tangail-4 said allocating only 10 minutes for him was nothing but a mockery.
When Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku presiding over the House mentioned Siddiqui’s name and said that 10 minutes were allocated for him.
“But I do not agree to participate in this farce, honourable Speaker! My mind is not accepting this. Therefore, I declare to abstain from the proceedings of this Parliament for 10 minutes that you have allocated to me.”
Latif Siddiqui immediately left his seat. He, however, participated in the House proceedings again after 10 minutes.
Earlier, Awami League's senior member of parliament Amir Hossain Amu was given 12 minutes for participating in the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech. Later, Amu’s time was extended for several minutes.
Independent MP of Barishal-4, Pankaj Nath in his speech said: “The more we (independent MPs) will talk, the more effective the Parliament will be.”
He also said that a veteran politician and freedom fighter like Siddiqui should be given 15 minutes to talk.
Siddiqui was removed from Cabinet in 2014 for his controversial remarks on hajj and was also expelled from the party for life.
He was elected as MP as an independent candidate in the January 7 national election.
Is market syndicate more powerful than govt, asks Anisul Islam Mahmud
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Anisul Islam Mahmud on Monday raised questions whether market syndicate is more powerful than the government.
“The government has reduced the duty of different goods to reduce their prices. But prices of those goods didn’t decrease. Why can't we control the syndicate? Is the syndicate more powerful than the government?” he said.
Finance Minister questions whether inflation is the main concern of the people
Anisul, also senior co-chairman of main opposition Jatiya Party, made the statement in Parliament while participating in the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech.
“Common people are suffering a lot due to inflation. Weak banking sector, unstable dollar exchange rate, dwindling reserves make the overall economy unstable,” he said.
He said that in case of any problem, the government used to mention Covid-19 pandemic, Ukraine war for it.
“But it is useless to mention such causes. We will have to figure out our own structural problems. Inflation has come under control in every country, including the United States. Why not Bangladesh? These should be discussed in Parliament.”
Anisul said that the present government is strong.
“Then Why can't the government stop extortion? It was expected that commodity prices would go down before Ramadan. But it is not happening.”
No scope for price hike of any products ahead of Ramadan: State Minister for Commerce
He said that good governance must be established in a bid to make development sustainable.
“Confidence in the judiciary should be enhanced. It should be ensured that the freedom of the media is not undermined.”
British era-Railways Act to be updated
The deputy leader of the opposition mentioned that recently a delegation from the United States came to Bangladesh and they have apparently visited the country for democracy and election.
“But I don't think that's true. They came because of their geo-political reasons. They want to include Bangladesh in some platforms.”
He requested the government not to get involved in the internal affairs of Myanmar in any way.
British era-Railways Act to be updated
Railways Minister Zillul Hakim on Monday said the Government is working to amend the 134 years old Railways Act, including updating it through incorporating harsh punishment to stop various irregularities in the Railways sector.
The minister said this in Parliament while replying to a query of ruling Awami League MP elected from Noakhali Mamunur Rashid Kiron.
Black market sales of train tickets will be stopped: Railways Minister
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader informed that a total of Tk 133.95 crore was deposited till January in the financial assistance fund formed for the victims of road accidents under the Road Transport Act, 2018.
In view of the application from the fund, so far 214 road accident victims have been given cheques of financial assistance of Tk 9.44 crore, the minister also said in reply to a query of ruling Awami League MP elected from Noakhali Morshed Alam.
Derailment: Train services on Jamalpur-Mymensingh route suspended
In response to the question of M. Abdul Latif, Railways Minister said that since January 2022, there have been 170 accidents on the railways and 49 people have lost their lives.
While replying to the query of AL MP elected from Feni Nizam Uddin Hazari, the railways minister said that fencing has been constructed at important stations of Bangladesh Railway to stop passengers from boarding on train roofs.
In response to the question of the ruling party MP elected from Bhola Ali Azam, Road Minister Obaidul Quader said that a feasibility study has been conducted for the construction of a 10.86 km long bridge over the Tentulia and Kalabadar rivers on the Barisal-Bhola road.
The proposed bridge is included in the master plan prepared for the Bangladesh Bridge Authority to verify the feasibility of future bridge construction in Bangladesh.
While replying to a query of Independent MP elected from Gaibandha Shah Sarwar Kabir, Obaidul Quader said the plan for construction of tunnel under the Jamuna River at Bahadurabad area of Jamalpur district has been included in the masterplan of Bangladesh Bridges Authority.
“Next necessary steps will be taken following getting the final report of the masterplan,” the minister also said.