PM sits with top aides on JS issues

The ruling BNP has moved to resolve some crucial issues including reviving the reserved seats for women in the Jatiya Sangsad and bringing amendments to the constitution.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had an unscheduled meeting on Saturday with her six top policymakers -- Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman, LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Health Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed, Information Minister Tariqul Islam and Agriculture Minister MK Anwar -- to find a solution to the outstanding issues.

However, the meeting could take no concrete decision.

Meeting sources said they discussed ways to strengthen parliament, revive the women's reserved seats as well as frame necessary laws to this end and bring some more amendments to the constitution.

They also discussed some proposals on bringing amendments of the constitution, the meeting sources said. However, the policymakers were tight-lipped about them.

Meeting sources said some important proposals for constitutional amendments and framing laws would be placed when the Jatiya Sangsad goes into its 11th session sometime in the middle of next month.