Speaker calls off India tour at eleventh hour

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday postponed her four-day India visit that was scheduled to begin today.

The speaker postponed her visit citing important responsibilities connected to Mujib Borsho -- the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- celebrations starting from March 17, said a press release issued by the parliament secretariat around 10:45pm last night. 

Her visit, originally scheduled to take place from March 2 to 5, is in response to invitations from speakers of India's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

As she is in charge of organising and coordinating several events, including special sessions of parliament to be held on March 22 and 23, Shirin is currently unavailable for visits abroad, the press release added.  

It was therefore decided that she would make the visit after the end of the celebration programmes. 

The speaker postponed her visit at a time when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is facing widespread criticism amid recent eruption of violence in Delhi between supporters and opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Act, that left 43 people dead.