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JS budget session begins today

BNP's joining uncertain; budget to be passed June 30

Staff Correspondent
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Jatiya Sangsad yesterday rejected Finance Minister AMA Muhith's proposal for passing the next fiscal year's budget on July 23 in parliament that goes into its second session today.
BAC, the topmost forum of parliament, decided that the budget for FY 2009-TO, which will be the first budget drawn by Awami League (AL)-led alliance government, will be passed on June 30, a day before the new fiscal year begins.
The second session of the ninth parliament that begins at 3:00pm today will continue till July 9, and if necessary, the speaker may extend the duration for a few more days, Speaker Abdul Hamid told reporters after a meeting of BAC in the parliament building.
But participation of BNP-led opposition lawmakers in the opening day of the session remains uncertain as bickering over seating arrangement in the House is yet to be settled.
The speaker however assured the opposition that BNP's newly elected two senior lawmakers Jamiruddin Sircar and Moudud Ahmed will be accommodated in the front row by allocating one more seat for opposition lawmakers there.
Sources in the party said they might not join the budget session today over the seating arrangement row. BNP also deferred its parliamentary party meeting by a week because of the party chair -person’s illness. The meeting was scheduled to be held today.
Opposition ChiefWhip Zainul Abdin Farroque Told The Daily Star last night that the parliamentary party meeting will be held next week to decide on Speaker Abdul Hamid's offer of giving one more seat in front row of the House.
BNP lawmaker Jamiruddin Sircar, who attended yesterday’s BAC meeting as a representative of Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia, demanded holding of discussions in the parliament on various important national issues including the law and order situation, and construction of Tipaimukh Dam in India.
In a quick retort, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is a .aember of BAC, said the issue of 10-trucks load of arms haul during the tenure of BNP-led four party alliance government. could also be discussed. She however assured the opposition lawmaker of considering his proposal after the budget is passed.
Meanwhile, the finance minister in his proposal sent to the Parliament Secretariat earlier said lawmakers would get more time to participate in the discussions on the proposed budget if it was passed on July 23.
To meet the constitutional obligation to pass the budget within June, the finance minister also proposed that grants could be passed on June 29 in advance to meet the government's expenditure before Passa£e of the budget on July 23, officials in the Parliament Secretariat said.
But, BAC at its meeting rejected the finance minister’s proposals, saying there is no scope for passing the budget
after June.
"We have no alternative, but to pass the budget for the new financial year on or before June 30," Advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia. a member of BAC, told The Daily Star after the meeting.
Talking to reporters in his office, the speaker said BAC allocated 40 hours for discussions on the proposed budget, which will be placed before the House on June 11.
NEWSEATING ARRANGEMENT Following demands of the opposition and inclusion of new lawmakers through byelections, Speaker Abdul Hamid rearranged the seating in the front rows of the treasury and opposition benches.
According to the new seating arrangement, opposition lawmakers Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Jamiruddin Sircar, who won recent by-elections, will be provided seats in the front row. While Shah Mofazzol Hossain Kaikobad will be moved to the second row from his earlier position in the front row, said the speaker.
In the last session Abdul Hamid gave four seats to BNP in the front row. After implementing the new seating order, the opposition will get one more scat in the front row bringing tire total number of opposition seats there to five.
Raushan Ershad, a lawmaker from Jatiya Party, who won a try-election, will also get a front row seat, said the speaker. In which case Mojibur Rahman, another Jatiya Party lawmaker will be moved to the second row.