Join JS, propose polls system

Speaker Abdul Hamid yesterday urged the main opposition BNP to place proposals in parliament outlining the system under which the next parliamentary election should be held.
“If they [opposition] come up with proposals in the House, I can ask the government to respond. I can even organise a discussion on the proposals here,” Hamid said, responding to a statement independent lawmaker Fazlul Azim had made on a point of order.
The Speaker proposed that he could also help the opposition and treasury benches to arrange discussions in any room inside the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
“A solution might come out of lively discussions,” he said, adding that he could, however, do nothing if the opposition kept making speeches outside parliament.
Earlier, taking the floor on a point of order, Fazlul Azim said the nation would face dire consequences if the ongoing political standoff over the issue of a caretaker government continued.
In his opening speech at the budget session that began yesterday afternoon, the Speaker said lawmakers could discuss any matter in parliament and an understanding or decision could be made on national issues through discussion.
His appeal to make parliament more effective comes at a time when the opposition is boycotting its proceedings to protest against its top leaders being sent to jail in an arson case.
“In democratic countries all over the world, parliament is the centre of discussion on all national and international issues. Similarly, in Bangladesh parliament is the centre for the government and MPs for all activities,” he said observed.
Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque yesterday said the BNP and its allies would not join the budget session while the top leaders of the 18-party alliance were in jail.
“How will we join the parliament session when our colleagues have been put behind bars?” he said at a human chain before the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
BNP lawmakers MK Anwar, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and Mahbubuddin Khokan, LDP President Col (retd) Oli Ahmad MP and BJPChairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho MP have been sent to jail in a case filed for torching a bus near the Prime Minister's Office during the opposition's hartal on April 29.
In his brief speech, the Speaker hoped all MPs would participate in parliamentary proceedings and debate on various issues.
“People expect that parliament will be the centre of all political activities. So, all MPs must be parliament-oriented. And the national interest must get priority over personal and partisan interests,” he said.
“The more parliament is made effective, the more democracy is strengthened.”
He said elected representatives have a responsibility to practise and promote democracy and to make people aware of national and international issues. Democracy would have to be nourished wholeheartedly and spread to the grassroots and it should be reflected in party and parliamentary business, the speaker said.
“It is our duty to work towards fulfilling the expectations of the people who elected us,” he said. He said it was the duty of the MPs to ensure that the money allocated in the annual budget was spent on the people's welfare.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith is expected to place the national budget in the House on June 7 for fiscal year 2012-2013.
Prior to the beginning of the budget session, the Business Advisory Committee of parliament at a meeting chaired by the Speaker decided that the House would hold a 40-hour-long discussion on the proposed budget, expected to be passed on June 28.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman placed a bill to enact a new law, “Bangladesh Atomic Energy Control”, by scrapping the law made earlier in 1993. He said the 1993 law went against international convention.
The bill was sent to the related parliament committee for scrutiny.
On behalf of the law minister, State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam placed in parliament two ordinances promulgated by the president earlier, including one for amending the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act.