Speaker for political consensus

Speaker Abdul Hamid yesterday stressed the need for "consensus" among all political parties "for the sake of the country.
He also assured extending an all out cooperation to the opposition parties so that they could play their due role in the House.
The Speaker was addressing the inaugural sitting of the 15th session of the ninth Jatiya Sangsad that kicked off yesterday in the absence of the BNP-led opposition, who had been boycotting the parliament since March, 2011.
“It is desirable that the opposition lawmakers take part in the House activities because it's an imperative for all of us to win people's confidence with our activities,” he said.
The Speaker also said lawmakers are accountable to people as their representatives and the parliament will become effective only when all its members actively participate in their respective duties.
The Business Advisory Committee of parliament decided that the present session will continue till November 29, the parliament secretariat release said.
FIVE-MEMBER PANEL
The Speaker yesterday selected a panel of five lawmakers to preside over the current session of parliament in his and the deputy speaker's absence in the House.
The panel members-- Mojibur Rahman, Shamsur Rahman Sharif, A B M Golam Mostafa, Mojibur Rahman Sarwar and Begum Shahin Monwara Haque-- will preside over the session in alphabetical order of their names.