JS goes into 7th session for very brief period

The House went into its seventh session this afternoon for a very brief period due to spread of Covid-19 in different parts of the country.

With Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, the sitting started at around 5:00pm.

At the beginning of it, the Speaker said the 11th parliament went into seventh session amid outbreak of Covid-19 due to constitutional obligation.

She said according to the constitution there can be a maximum of 60 days' gap between the end of a session and the beginning of the next one.

"As the last session (sixth) of parliament was prorogued on February 18, the next session will have to sit within April 18," she said.

The seventh session of parliament will be prorogued following adaptation of condolence motion on Awami League MP M Shamsur Rahman Sharif from Pabna-4 who died on April 2 at a city hospital.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, AL senior MP Matia Chowdhury, Opposition Chief Whip Moshiur Rahman Ranga, among others, were present at the session.

This is the shortest session of parliament in the recent history of Bangladesh, sources at the parliament secretariat said.

Seating arrangement has been made ensuring social distancing among the lawmakers.

The government has advised media to cover the session through watching live telecast from Sangsad Television.

Limited number of lawmakers were present at the sitting. Lawmakers mainly from Dhaka and its adjacent districts were present.

Most of the senior and front row MPs remained absent on advise from the parliament secretariat to avoid risk of Covid-19, sources said.