The Jatiya Sansad goes into its budget session at 9:30 this morning.

The session. 13th of the seventh parliament, is likely to witness stormy debates as the ruling party and the Opposition have plans to utilise the session keeping in mind the next general elections.

Finance Minister SAMS Kibria is likely to place before the House the national budget for fiscal 1999-2000 on June 10.

This time the government would try its best to offer a budget aimimg at winning sentiments of the common man. ruling party insiders hinted. The party high command has already asked the finance finister to formulate the budget keeping in mind the next general elections." a ruling party stalwart told The Daily Star yesterday seeking anonymity. t

Meanwhile, the opposition parties in parliament have reached an understanding to make concerted efforts to project government's failures in various sectors Including power, gas. law and order, prices of essentials, trade and commerce, said a top ranking BNP leader.

Among other issues, 'harassment' of opposition leaders and activists by the government would figure prominently in the proceedings, of the session,

the BNP leader said . "On top of all, the Trasury Bench will face the music for its cdntrover-sial claim of 5.2 per cent growth rate in fiscal 1998-1999."

He also said, “whatever we do in the House, we will naturally keep an eye on the next national polls".

Meantime. JS Secretariat sources said that the lawmakers belonging to both the Treasury and the Opposition benches have already submitted some 2000 questions relating to activities of different ministries. Besides, they have submitted some 100 questions for the Prime Minister for her question-answer session on Tuesdays.

The MPs. especially those from the Opposition, have also submitted several dozens of 'call attention notices' on various issues affecting people of different areas of the country.

Besides, the session would witness debates on a good number of bills and passage of those. The Treasury Bench is set for moving a number of Important bills Including the Women and Children Repression Prevention (Special Provision ) Act,

1999 and Upajila Act (amendment) Bill. 1999.

The Upajila Act will be amended mainly to shift the present deadline -

July 30 - of Upajila elections. Besides some loop-holes in the Act. detected after its passage a few months ago. will be removed through amendments.

Another bill will be moved to enhance the salaries and allowances of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

The JS Business Advisory Committee, an all-party body responsible for deciding agenda for a session, is scheduled to meet this afternoon.

The parliamentaiy wing of BNP met yesterday while that of the ruling party is scheduled to meet this evening to decide it strategy for the budget session.