Surprise on cards in the JS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may bring in major changes in the key parliamentary posts of the new Jatiya Sangsad, said senior Awami League leaders.
Earlier this month, she came up with a surprise by inducting many new faces into the cabinet.
Those who were dropped from the cabinet may find themselves leading different parliamentary standing committees this time.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, a number of AL leaders said Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was very likely to continue in her post.
They, however, said the PM was likely to pick a new deputy speaker.
“Khashru bhai [AL presidium member Abdul Matin Khashru] would probably be elected as the deputy speaker,” an AL presidium member told this correspondent, wishing not to be named.
Khashru, a former law minister, was made the chief of the parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry in the 10th parliament.
AL MP from Gaibandha-5 Fazle Rabbi Miah currently holds the post of deputy speaker.
Lawmakers will elect the Speaker and deputy speaker on the first sitting of the maiden session of the 11th parliament on January 30.
For the post of deputy leader of the House, Hasina is likely to pick AL presidium member Matia Chowdhury, the agriculture minister of her two previous cabinets.
Names of senior AL leaders Tofail Ahmed and Amir Hossain Amu were also being discussed for the post, said AL sources.
The two were senior ministers in Hasina's previous cabinet.
Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, lawmaker from Faridpur-2, is the deputy leader of the 10th parliament.
Hasina may also come up with a surprise by selecting a new chief whip of parliament.
Instead of Chief Whip ASM Feroz, a lawmaker from Patuakhali-2, Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton (Madaripur-1) might be selected for the post.
With his latest win in the December 30, 2018 election, Liton has been elected as an MP for the sixth consecutive term.
Liton was made chief of the parliamentary standing committee on estimate in the 10th parliament.
FIVE WHIPS
AL MPs Atiur Rahman Atik, Shahiduzzaman Sarker, Iqbalur Rahim, Shahab Uddin, Solaiman Haque Joarder Selun and Mahabub Ara Begum Gini were made whips of the 10th parliament.
Of them, Shahab Uddin has been made minister for environment, forest and climate change.
AL sources said in the new parliament, the PM might bring in several new faces, including Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon (Jaipurhat-2), ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury (Chattogram-6) and Simeen Hussain Rimi (Gazipur-4), to act as whip of parliament.
For the posts of chiefs of different parliamentary standing committees, the PM may choose AL big shots who have been dropped from the cabinet.
“The dropped ministers might be made chiefs of the parliamentary watchdogs of the ministry which were led by them in a bid to strengthen the supervisory function of the ministries concerned,” said an AL leader.
On January 8, AL President Hasina formed the government for the third consecutive term as she took oath as the prime minister. She is leading a 47-member council of ministers.
She dropped 34 members of the previous cabinet, including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Mohammed Nasim and Matia Chowdhury, and inducted 27 new faces and four former ministers into it.
None from the AL-led 14-party alliance was included in the cabinet.
Jatiya Party, which took part in last national election under the banner of the AL-led Grand Alliance, have decided to sit in the opposition bench.
AL leaders said the other components of the Grand Alliance would also be part of the opposition in the House.
Comments