Parliament gets back liveliness after long break; Speaker pledges adequate time to opposition

By AKM Moinuddin

Sangsad Bhaban, Mar 15 (UNB) – After a long break, parliament got back its liveliness with return of opposition led by Khaleda Zia to the House when it resumed at 5:05pm today.
Before taking up the day’s business sans tabling the question-answer Khaleda stood up and Speaker Abdul Hamid allowed her the floor to make a lengthy statement, touching upon vexing national issues and censuring the government for its ‘failure’ to resolve the problems. She held the floor uninterrupted for nearly an hour.
Earlier, welcoming the opposition the Speaker assured of adequate time to ventilate their views.
Khaleda touched upon various national issues - spiraling price of essentials, oppressive law and order situation, share market scam and sacking of Prof Mohammad Yunus, the Nobel Laureate, from his own brainchild Grameen Bank irking the international community.
She was critical of the government for pursuing a weak foreign policy and questioned the wisdom of borrowing one billion dollars from India for implementing projects of New Delhi’s choice.
She said the whole nation was stunned at the conspicuous silence of the government at the brutal killing of young Felani Khatun who was shot down by Indian BSF on Kurigram border. The horrifying photograph of the body of the poor girl kept hung on the barbed wire fence stirred the conscience of all but the government leadership.
Khaleda was often cheered by the opposition members by thumping the table. The treasury benches unusually exercised utmost patience and listened to her lengthy speech.
Few young, enthusiastic members of the treasury benches, however, disagreeing with Khaleda’s points shouted at her. The chair stopped them and advised to be patient to the views of the leader of the opposition.
The House was virtually packed with almost all members because of return of the opposition after nearly nine months.
Khaleda said they have retuned to stay in the House and requested the Speaker to allow their adjournment motions on vital national issues.
Speaker Abdul Hamid hoped that with presence of the opposition parliament would be more effective and meaningful. He also assured of his neutrality in conducting the House and give time to the opposition members in accordance with the rules of procedure.
END/UNB/AKM