The main opposition BNP has joined the current 19th session of the 9th Parliament in the afternoon, with the possibility to place its polls-time government formula.
In response to the prime minister’s proposal for an all-party polls-time government main opposition BNP has tabled its own formula for an ad-hoc government that would comprise 10 advisers from two previous “successful” caretaker governments.
Opposition chief Khaleda Zia came up with the proposal on Monday at a packed press conference at a city hotel.
BNP-led opposition MPs joined parliament at about 6:17pm. However, opposition chief Khaleda Zia did not join the session.
BNP-led opposition parliament members including MK Anwar, Barkatullah Bulu and Zainul Abdin Farroque joined the JS session led by Jamir Uddin Sircar.
Earlier in the day, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had asked the opposition lawmakers to be present at her office in the parliament at around 5pm. The BNP joined the last budget session, but has been boycotting the recent sessions.
Meanwhile the Business Advisory Committee of parliament on Wednesday decided that it will continue to hold the current 19th session of parliament till November 7.
The decision came from a meeting of the committee held at the parliament building.
The prime minister, the opposition leader, deputy leader of the House, the deputy speaker, Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad, the chief whip and a few other senior MPs from major parties are the members of the Business Advisory Committee, which determines everything related to a parliament session, including its tenure.
The committee, headed by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, started the meeting at about 4pm.
Before the adjournment on October 9, senior treasury bench members including Tofail Ahmed, minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta and Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, and JSD MP Moinuddin Khan Badal reminded the opposition that October 24 is not the last day of this House.
They said Parliament will continue until the next election is held and the incumbent Prime Minister will hand over power to another elected PM after the election.
On October 13, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the current Parliament will stay till January 24 making it clear that its session can continue until the election schedule is announced.