Dhaka: Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury on Saturday said the main opposition BNP will be given opportunity to discuss any national issue if they want to put its focus on the House floor.

 “The opposition party will be given scope for discussion on any topic. There is no discrimination between the ruling and the main opposition party in the parliament,” she said.

She came up with the assertion while talking to journalists at a programme on ‘Gender Mainstreaming in Bangladesh Parliament’ at a hotel in the capital city.

Dr Shirin also said she would ensure the congenial atmosphere for the opposition so that they could speak in the parliament.

On May 22, the opposition party proposed an adjournment motion for discussion on restoration of the caretaker government system in Parliament Secretariat.

But later, they withdrew their proposal during the 18th session of parliament closing the door themselves for discussion on caretaker government issue on the House floor as the Awmi League-led ruling alliance agreed in principal to let the issue be discussed on House floor though it was not adjournment motion complaint issue.

This prompted the Prime Minister in saying the BNP led alliance is not interested at all to resolve the crisis over election modalities and rather busy in conspiracies for saving the war criminals. Had they had any good intention, they would not have withdrawn their adjournment motion, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as BNP withdrew their move for discussion. She also added that the door for discussion on CG issue had been closed due to BNP’s stubbornness and pre-conditions for talks in recent public statements.   

Ends/AMA/08/06/13