The Jatiya Sangsad resumed Its sitting at 11-40 am Saturday with Speaker Abdur Rahman Biswas in the ehair, reports BSS

The day s proceedings began with recitation from die Hoty Quran

After the recitation. Law and Justice Minister Mirza Golam Hafiz requested the chair to set timelimit for the members to take part in the discussions on tire bills to be

He toid’nvc bills have to be passed hy the House and authenticated by the Acting President today.

Mirza Hafiz said it was ob served from the previous ex perk* nets that normally two to three hours time was required to pass any bill by the House. In this regard he referred to rule 291 of the rules of procedure and suggested that the Speaker limit discussions on a bill to 30 minutes only.

The one given by the Deputy Leader of Opposition Abdus Samad Azad had been admit ted.

Biswas said Friday 23 call notices were received of which the notice by Sheikh Harunur Rashid (AL-Khulna) had been admitted

Badruddoza Chowdhury

The Deputy Leader of the House and Education Minister Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury took the floor and said that the House had a lengthy discussion on the situation in the cyclone battered areas.

"We want to discuss this issue every day.” he said Prof Chowdhury informed the House that the Leader of the House and Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zta had gone to the affected areas.

He suggested that the Speaker could fix up a time in

the evening to discuss the situation created by the cyclone and the relief operations. Meantime, we can pass the pending bills, he said.

His suggestion was greeted by the opposition members through thumping of table

Azizur Rahman

The Speaker, then gave the floor to Azizur Rahman (AL Moulvlbazarj for moving his call attention notice.

Moving his call attention notice. Azizur Rahman said that the authority of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust had purchased the worst type of Italian ma chine at a high price of 40 lakh US dollars for Tabanl Beverage Company ignoring the expert opinion. The Trust authority did not buy the best quality machine, made in USA at a low price of 38 lakh US

dollar, he said.

He demanded that such an irregular purchase should be stopped to save the welfare trust, considering shaheed famtiles were being given allowances from the income of “"""WlulHuq

Replying to the motion. Agriculture Minister Majldul Huq. who is in charge of the Ministry of Defence In the Sangsad. gave a detailed report and said that allegations of Irregularities regarding the purchase were not based on facts and statistics. As such, he said the demand for cancelling the contract and holding Judi ctal enquiry did not arise.

After disposing of the call attention notice, the Speaker took up the day s legislative business and invited the Law and Justice Minister to table his bill

But Suranjlt Sengupta took the floor on a point of order arid said Anwar Hossain (JP Pirojpur) was arrested from the precincts of the Sangsad Bhaban in the presence of Saiauddin Quader Chowdhury and he himself.

Referring to the relevant rules of procedure. Sengupta wanted to know whether the Speaker had given permission to arrest Hossain.

The Speaker said he had already received some notices on the matter, he said he would give decision on the matter later

At this stage, the Law and Justice Affairs Minister. Mirza Oolam Hafiz said the point, raised by Sengupta, did not fall under any point of order. It could be a point of privilege. He advised the member to dis cuss the issue under the rele van! rule of the rules of proce

The Speaker said he would allow discussion on the arrest

today (Sunday). Manirui Huq Chowdhury (JP-ComUla) also look the floor on a point of order and wanted to know about the arrest of Anwar Hossain. The Speaker gave Chowdhury the same reply he had given to Sengupta

Montrul Haq

Rising on a point of order. Jattya Party member Monirul Haq Chowdhury wanted ' to know from the chair why the house was not Informed of the arrest of Anwar Hossain Manju. He demanded an explanation why a member was arrested despite the ruling of the Speaker and also during the continuation of the session.

Speaker Abdur Rahman Biswas said a decision tn this regard would be given loday

(Sunday)

The Speaker then asked Minister lot Law and Justice Mirza Colam Hate to move the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill. 1991 for Immediate considera Uon. which Mirza Hafiz did

Sudhangau Shekhar Halder

Invited Sudhangsu Shekhar Halder (Al.-Pirojpur) to move his amendments. Taking the floor Halder demanded ade quate time tor discussion on al) bills set far Saturday

Halder criticised the provl sions in the bill to raise the punishment saying only by In "creasing punishment, crimes would not be contained. He alleged that some provisions of the Special Powers Act have been quietly Incorporated In the Penal Code He asked the minister to remove those provisions of the Special Powers

Suranjlt Sengupta

Suranjlt Sengupta (GP Sunamganj) rising on a point of order. said that the sovereignty of Parliament would be curtailed if the timelimit was fixed by the minister. He said ft was Ihe responsibility of the Speaker to set timelimit if the discussions were prolonged unnecessarily.

Gupta said how the question of timelimit could be raised when the bill Itself was not even placed for constdcralion.

Tofael Ahmed

Tofael Ahmed (AL-Bhola) then tried to draw the attention of the chair to a news item, published in Saturday's paper. But his contention was expunged by the Speaker, saying that Ahmed was not given the Qooi

The deputy Leader of the Opposition. Abdus Samad Azad seeking permission from the chair, said that It was a mallei of great regret that the government could not yet furnish the appraisal report to the foreign missions on the extent of loss due to the cyclone and the requirement of relief foi the cyclone affected people.

He referred to the newspaper report and said the foreign missions had alleged llrat they had not got the report.

Tire Speaker then Informed the House tliat seven notices on breach of member's privilege had been received, five being on one subject whik- two others by individual members of other matters. He said Ite would give ruling on these no Uces later bn.

He said he had received 13 call attention notices Saturday.

Ac’ from the bill and also to ctn utate M far eHrttkM pobite

Salah uddin Yuauf

Salahuddln Yusuf (AL Khulna) said by enhancing period of punishment, the crimes could not be reduced He said what Is important to how the taw will be used Yusuf said since the bill ms scry ton portant. it should be discussed throughly He ate|rd the bill

racy. Yusuf suggested that the bill be sent to eHeit public

Dhirendra Devnath Suunbbu

Taking the floor. Advocate Dhirendra Devnath Shambhu (AL-Barguna). called for send Ing the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill. 1991 to elicit public opinion.

He said the AeUng President promulgated an ordinance tn this regard under special circumstances which, he added, has no necessity tn the present context

Abdur Rahman Biswas

The Speaker. Abdur Rahman Biswas, adjourned the House at 1:10 pm till 3 pm this afternoon.

As soon as the House resumed In the afternoon. Speaker Abdur Rahman Biswas Invited discussion on the Penul Code (Amendment) Bill. 1991.

Asad uzza man

Participating in the discussion. Asaouzzaman (Al. Maguni) said there was a scope for chaos and Indiscipline during the last general elections but the situation no more existed now

He said no law was being enacted lo round up those businessmen who took crores of Taka as loans from bank from 1980 to 1990 and did not repay them. He said there would be no scope for criticism of the government if the bill was passed In the House.

Nurul Islam Moni

Nurul Islam Mont (Ind Barguna) said It would have been better to be with the affected people tn the cyclone battered areas than to participate in the discussion. He said he would still do It as the bill was very important

He called upon the members of the Treasury Bench to deeply think before passing the bill

Fazie Rabbi

Advocate Fazie Rabbi (JP-Nllphamari) said the bill was nothing more than a black law He said it only contained provisions for enhancing the sentence

Rashed Khan Menon

Rashcd Khan Menon (Workers Party-BakcrganJ) said the bill was framed under special circumstances which did not exist now

He said 'we must refrain from doing anything which will help continue autocracy under the garb of democracy'.

He said the alm of the bill was not to stop forcible extortion of money. But. he said. It was aimed at curbing the activities of the parties which accepted contribution (Chanda) from the people and in return, wanted lo work for the cause of the people.

Shawkat Ali

He urged the House to send the bill to select committee. Col (Retd) Shawkat Alt (AL Shariatpur) said the bill would give a handle to the govern menl and also to the law en forcing agencies to use II for the repression of political rivals.

He said extortion of money by individuals and groups could never be stopped by enacting laws. He said social consciousness was needed for stopping this vice. He regretted that the Jatlya Sangsad which was achieved through a blood drenched movement would enact an anti-people taw

Mohammad Abdus

SWuin

Mohammad Abdus Sobhan (Jamaat-e-lalaml-Pabna) said the government wanted to enact a black taw in the House.

He referred to the devastat Ing cyclone that hit the coastal areas of the country on May 29 and said the cyclone had killed three to four takh people

He said the government had brought the bill In the House at a time when ihe distressed humanity In the cyclone bat lered areas needed help and assistance The Jamaal Member described It ds a re prcsswe bill -nd said Ite bill was designed to harass tte opposition workers

(Incomplete)