The Business Advisory Committee of the Jatiya Sangsad headed by the speaker Thursday said the 19th session, which started on Thursday without the opposition, would be the last session of the ninth parliament.
The committee decided to stretch the session up to October 24, practically the last day of the Awami League-led legislature.
In her opening speech, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told parliament that the next general elections must take place between October 25 and January 24, 2014.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Deputy Speaker Col (retd) Shawkat Ali, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed, Rahmat Ali, Tofail Ahmed, Rashed Khan Menon, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Fazle Rabbi Miah and Abdul Matin Khasru attended the meeting chaired by the speaker.
A committee member and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia did not turn up at the meeting.
Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali told the Dhaka Tribune: “All of the members who spoke said this session would be the last session and October 24 will be the last day of the current parliament.”
The meeting, however, did not disclose if the current parliament would be dissolved after October 25.
As the House started its business at 5:05pm, the speaker told parliament that according to article 123 (3) (a) of the constitution, the elections would take place 90 days ahead of the completion of the five-year tenure of parliament. The Jatiya Sansgad completes five years on January 24. So, the elections must take place any day between October 25 and January 24.
“Against this backdrop, this session is important. Steps will be taken to pass important bills,” she said, adding that the treasury and opposition benches would discuss nationally important issues in line with the constitution.
Lawmakers of the main opposition BNP did not attend the sitting.
All scheduled businesses of the assembly were suspended after adopting a condolence motion on Awami League MP Golam Sabur from Barguna 2, who died in a road accident on July 26. Law Minister Shafique Ahmed tabled three ordinances the Multi-level Marketing Regulation Ordinance 2013, the Vested Property Ordinance 2013, and the Information and Communication Technology Ordinance 2013.
The House will resume at 5:15pm on Sunday.
