STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The government has offered the post of deputy speaker to the opposition ahead of the first sitting of the newly elected parliament, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said yesterday.

“We respect the July National Charter and want to begin implementing the political understanding reached through consensus. We have agreed that two deputy speaker posts will be created. One of them will be nominated or elected from the opposition. We are offering that now,” he said while briefing reporters after meeting with the prime minister at the secretariat.

Salahuddin said the offer was made as a gesture of goodwill in line with the July charter.

Asked about a reported petition seeking to bar the president from delivering the inaugural address on the first day of the session, he said he had no knowledge of such a petition.

“We have said that for freedom of speech and liberty we have given our lives. People can speak,” he added.

However, he said the constitution, established practice and tradition still require the president to deliver the address on the first day of the first session of a new parliament and at the beginning of the parliamentary year.

If any future constitutional amendment changes the provision, it could be considered then.

On constitutional reform, Salahuddin said members “If

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