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JS set for stand-off

Govt, AL lock horns on mode of discussion on Aug 21 attack

SHAKHAWAT LITON And SHAMEEM MAHMUD
An ongoing wrangle between the treasury bench and the main opposition over the mode of discussion on the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally is likely to culminate in yet another parliamentary stand-off.
AL has already rejected a general discussion on the gory attack, which was scheduled for yesterday along with other businesses. But inclement weather forced to adjourn the sitting until 5:00pm today.
The discussion will be held today, says Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Secretariat in the day's order, adding Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar will fix its duration.
But the AL today will protest the mode of discussion, which, it said,
was unilaterally decided by the ruling alliance treating the attack too casually.
On Monday, AL lawmakers asked the speaker for a discussion on the attack adjourning all scheduled businesses of the House in accordance with their notices submitted under Provision 62 of the Rules of Procedure. But the treasury bench refused.
BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan then told the House the speaker would fix the mode of the discussion. But the speaker that day did not announce his decision prompting AL members to walk out.
In today's JS session, AL deputies will once again ask the speaker to cancel the general discussion and hold it under Provision 62.
Sources said, if the demand is not met, AL lawmakers would keep off parliamentary proceedings.
The party has taken the issue quite seriously and will finalise its strategy considering today's situation in the House, they added.
The last time AL lawmakers stormed out of the House was on June 25 last year after a minister had cast aspersions on Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina. That time they kept away until June 13 last.
The party first joined the current parliament on June 24, 2002, ending an eight-month boycott protesting what it said was the mass rigging in the October 2001 general elections that sent the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition in office.
AL policymakers last night hinted at tough actions including boycott, for the third time, of the House if their demand for a discussion under Provision 62 is turned down.
"Instead, we will go for street agitation to drive home our one-point demand -- immediate resignation of the government," a top AL leader said wishing anonymity.
"Discussion in parliament is a stylised way of interaction between the government and the opposition. The government can also use it as an effective means to begin dialogue with us. But if it ignores our demand for a discussion under Provision 62, no scope for interaction will be left,'' Saber Hossain Chowdhury, political secretary to the opposition leader, told The Daily Star yesterday.
"We'll not accept any discussion on the assassination attempt on Sheikh Hasina and our senior leaders except under Provision 62," Deputy Opposition Leader Abdul Hamid told reporters yesterday at his Sangsad Bhaban office.
Asked what if the speaker rejects their motion, Hamid said in that case they would take some other decision. He, however, did not elabo-rate.
Sources said the strategy on the issue would be decided at the AL Parliamentary Party (ALPP) meeting this afternoon. The meeting started yesterday, discussed the political developments and was adjourned until 4:00pm today.
AL members of parliament so far have submitted 137 notices for discussions under Provision 62 on different issues including the August 21 grenade attack that killed 20 and injured hundreds. The speaker has not disposed the notices yet.
Abdul Hamid, a former speaker, at a press briefing yesterday referred to four discussions held under the provision in the Fifth Parliament.
The first parliamentary discussion, on a killing of four Bangladeshis by Indian border security guards, was held on April 23, 1991 following a notice given by Salauddin Quader Chowdhury. The second was held on October 10 the same year on a shootout between two student organisations on a notice submitted by Rashed Khan Menon.
Adjourning businesses, the JS on January 8, 1992 discussed selection of Golam Azam as chief of Jamaat-e-Islami despite being a Pakistani citizen. The fourth discussion was held on September 20, 1993 on an incident in which Islami Chhatra Shibir cadres killed one and injured over 200 in the Rajshahi University.
STANDING COMMITTEE RECONSTITUTION
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar yesterday hinted to ruling coalition whips that the parliamentary standing committees are likely to be reconstituted on Thursday, the end day of the current session, mainly to accommodate AL deputies in them.
The main opposition party during the last JS session sent a list to the chief whip of its deputies nominated for inclusion in the committees.