Opposition lawmakers charged the government with share-market scandal and protecting bank defaulters as the House resumed debate on the President's address to Parliament. reports UNB.

Ruling party members, however. praised Sheikh Hasina’s eight-month administration for initiatives to revamp the economy and attract foreign investment and for signing the historic water treaty with India.

Jahanara Khan. Meher Afroz. AK Fazlul Huq. Dr Mokhlesur Rahman. Mohammad Abdus Sattar. Tabibur Rahman Sardar and Pan-chanan Biswas of the Awami League. Shah Mohammad Abul Hossain. Abdul Khaleque. Alamgir Kabir. Prof Rezaul Karim and GM Fazlul Huq of the BNP. Golam Hossain and Joynal Abedin of Jatiya Party took part in the general discussion.

Meher Afroz, (AL) lauded the government for neutral application of law ensuring Justice and consolidating democracy.

Afroz. daughter of slain Awami League leader Moyezud-

din. questioned how the notorious killers could get release on mercy from all.

She urged the government to take steps to commemorate the martyrs of democracy. She also demanded public trial and capital punishment of women and child traffickers.

Shah Mohammad Abul Hossain deplored that President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed who earned fame for his strict neutrality in 1991 as caretaker president lost that repute in 1996 after becoming President on Awami League ticket.

"Justice Ahmed is the President of this country, not of a political party." he said and requested the President to play his neutral role in the future.

Alamgir Kabir alleged that some pro-government businessmen and so-called foreign investors looted and siphoned off thousands of crores of taka from the country's stockmarket. "But the President failed to mention it in his speech."

Kabir was bitter about black money-holders and said: "Bit loan defaulters are travelling with the Prime Minister as members of her entourage

He demanded white paper on bank defaulters and ban on their doing politics.

Referring to the Awami League rule, the BNP member said: "This party has expertise in making cocktails and violence. not governing the country."

Kabir criticised Sheikh Hasina's policy about the issues of Farakka. Shantibahini and transit and said the government's love for India had been exposed.

"When our Prime Minister speaks, it seems that she is speaking like an Indian Prime Minister ... Love (for India) is deeper to them than to the country."