Speaker of the dissolved Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) Shamsul Huda Choudhury will preside over the opening session of the new parliament. The House will elect a new speaker and a deputy speaker in the opening session.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the BNP Parliamentary Party meeting at the Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday evening. Secretary General of BNP Abdus Salam Talukder who is also 1GRD minister said the meeting discussed procedural matters relating to the opening session of parliament.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia presided over the BNP PP meeting.

Salam Talukder said Acting President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed will address the open-

ing session of parliament as per constitutional provisions.

Parliament will meet at 9 am tomorrow (Friday) with the outgoing Speaker Shamsul Huda Choudhury in the cliair. As soon as the House meets a new speaker and a deputy speaker will be elected by the members. A five-member panel of chairmen will be constituted.

The House will be .adjourned for a few minutes when the new speaker and the deputy speaker will take oath from the Acting President.

The House will resume Its business with the new speaker tn the chair. Then obituary references will be proposed by the leader of the house. Salam Talukder said 44 ordinances which were promulgated since the last session will be presented by the leader of the House.

Salam Talukder said the issue of election of the new speaker and the deputy speaker did not come up for discussion In the meeting. He told a questioner that the issues may be settled in a meeting today

Replying to a question, he said the issue of electing chief whip and other whips of the BNP Parliamentary Party will also be settled today.

Besides the procedural matters. the meeting discussed the overall political situation tn the country.