Thanks-giving motion to be passed Tuesday

Passage of a resolution to thank former president Iajuddin Ahmed for his inaugural speech in the ninth parliament was deferred till Tuesday as Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia declined to speak on the motion yesterday.
The discussion on the thanks-giving motion on the president's address was scheduled to end yesterday through passage of resolution in the House.
Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia were supposed to speak on the motion before its passage.
Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina was present at the beginning of yesterday's sitting but the opposition leader, who had joined the House on only two workdays since January 25, was absent.
Prior to resumption of the House proceedings yesterday afternoon, Speaker Abdul Hamid was informed that the opposition leader was not willing to speak on the thanks-giving motion.
“The leader of the House and opposition leader will speak on the thanks-giving motion on March 7. The resolution on thanks-giving motion will be passed on the day,” Speaker Abdul Hamid told reporters yesterday at his office last evening.
Passage of the resolution had been deferred to honour the opposition leader, Hamid said, adding the current session will also be prorogued on that day.
When contacted Chief Whip Abdus Shahid told The Daily Star last evening passage of the resolution was deferred till Tuesday as the opposition leader expressed her unwillingness to speak on it yesterday.
Iajuddin Ahmed, the then president, delivered inaugural speech in the ninth parliament on January 25. The BNP-led opposition lawmakers led by the opposition leader boycotted the president's address accusing him of 'violating the constitution' by failing to hold the January 22 parliamentary polls in 2007 although he assumed the office of the chief adviser to the caretaker government.
A number of lawmakers yesterday participated in the discussion on the thanks-giving motion on the president's address.