DHAKA: Speaker Advocate Abdul Hamid Saturday said that it would be a wrong decision if the main opposition BNP stayed away from the House during the upcoming budget session of parliament.

”Nothing happened. I hope they will join the session, attend budget dicussion and criticise the government in a positve way,” he told journalists while launching a book titled `Hoarbashir Jibon Kotha (Life of People Living in the Haor Area)’ at the parliament house.

A platform called ’Nagorik Committee’ organized the program to launch the book by A S M Eunus. Members of Parliament MM Mannan, Mujibul Hoque Chunnu and Rebeka Momin, economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Prof. Sirazul Islam and President of Nagorik Committee Atiqur Rahman were also present.

The Speaker said that he was not informed yet if the BNP would join the session or not. He was critical of some media for what he said their attempt to keep the opposition out of the House.

In reply to a question, the Speaker said cases and attacks on opposition activists are political issue which the opposition will have to deal with the government, not with the parliament.  

Expressing his ignorance about a bill that the ruling party plans to table in the next session to return to the Constitution of 1972, he said it would be decided on the basis of opinions of majority members.

BDST 1839 HRS, May 29, 2010.
JU/FA/MUA