JS set to pass thanks-giving motion today amid protests

Amid protest from both the treasury and opposition benches, the House passes today a resolution to thank former president Iajuddin Ahmed for his inaugural speech in the ninth parliament.
During discussion on the president's address, most ruling and opposition lawmakers criticised Iajuddin for "violating the constitution and conspiring against democracy" in the last two years and opposed the proposal to thank him.
Lawmakers of the main opposition BNP, which had elected Iajuddin president in the last parliament, submitted around 200 notices to the Parliament Secretariat opposing the motion, officials concerned said.
Lawmakers of the ruling alliance led by the Awami League (AL) who earlier opposed the proposal will, however, have to support the resolution for its passage since it was the treasury bench that placed it, the officials said.
The resolution will be the first to be passed despite opposition from over half the total number of MPs, senior officials said. Around 200 lawmakers took part in the discussion for over 22 hours until Thursday and almost all of them opposed thanking Iajuddin.
It is expected that the discussion ends today with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia speaking on the motion as parliamentary proceedings resume today after a two-day recess, the officials said.
If Hasina and Khaleda participate in the discussion, it will be their second face-off in the ninth parliament since its inauguration on January 25. Earlier, they came face to face on March 1 in an obituary reference on the death of army officials in BDR carnage.
Iajuddin Ahmed addressed the inaugural sitting of the ninth parliament on January 25 amid BNP's boycott.
BNP lawmakers walked out of parliament under Khaleda's leadership, accusing him of violating the constitution by failing to hold the general election in 90 days even after assuming the office of the chief adviser to the caretaker government.
On the next workday, Chief Whip Abdus Shahid placed the thanks-giving motion on the president's address.
During discussion on the motion, both ruling and opposition lawmakers blasted Iajuddin for his role during the rule of the last caretaker government. Ruling AL also criticised him for remaining silent and approving the misdeeds of the BNP-Jamaat government.
A BNP lawmaker even submitted a notice demanding discussion on the president's alleged violation of the constitution but the speaker rejected the notice.
A few AL lawmakers thanked Iajuddin for mentioning, in his speech, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as father of the nation and congratulating Sheikh Hasina on her party's landslide victory in the last election.