AL on course to join JS today

The main opposition Awami League (AL) is likely to stage a comeback to parliament today as the Jatiya Sangsad goes into session this afternoon ending a 12-day recess to adopt an obituary reference on slain opposition lawmaker Ahsanullah Master.

A final decision however will emerge from a meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) at 3:30pm today. The AL presidium had a primary discussion on the issue at a meeting yesterday and decided to hold the parliamentary party meet to discuss the overall situation and decide on joining the session.

"We are very much positive," a presidium member told The Daily Star, wishing anonymity, about the possibility of joining parliament today.

The AL has been boycotting parliamentary proceedings since June 25 last year and since then has been unbent on its decision not to return to the House. But after its April 30 deadline for pulling down the BNP-led coalition government fell flat on its face, the party decided to return to parliament, but no date was set. The assassination of its lawmaker in Tongi on May 7 however prompted the party to ponder about joining the session today.

The latest political development was discussed at yesterday's AL presidium meeting following a directive from party chief Sheikh Hasina who is scheduled to fly back home on May 13, cutting short her 10-day tour to the US.

"A decision on joining the session will be taken after discussing the issue at the parliamentary party meeting," Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House Abdul Hamid Advocate told The Daily Star yesterday.

AL presidium member Suranjit Sengupta said yesterday's presidium meeting left it up to the parliamentary party to decide whether to join the session.

"If the lawmakers want to join the session, the party will join. There are enough chances of joining the session tomorrow (Wednesday)," an AL policymaker said on condition that he not be named.

"I always favour going back to parliament as I consider the move a part of our movement against the government," Suranjit said, adding that the anti-government struggle should be waged both in and out of the House.

The veteran lawmaker said, "(Personally,) I am against boycott culture."

Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar will propose an obituary reference on the late lawmaker, followed by a brief discussion on the proposal before the reference is adopted. The AL deputies can also speak on the reference if the main opposition joins the session.

After Ahsanullah's assassination, Hamid proposed to some party presidium members to join parliament on May 12 and the discussion on the obituary reference.

The much-talked-about bill for 14th amendment to constitution is likely to be passed in the current session that runs through May 17. The AL has rejected the proposed bill and demanded its withdrawal.