STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman yesterday proposed that the government’s planned load-shedding in Dhaka should begin at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

He made the suggestion while taking the floor in the House around 8:00 pm, hours after State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit gave a statement on the power crisis.

“It is not desirable that those living in urban areas remain comfortable while rural people suffer. The spirit of the July uprising calls for a discrimination-free Bangladesh. There should be no disparity between urban and rural areas,” Aninda said while speaking under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure.

Following discussions with the opposition leader, the government decided to conduct an initial trial of 110 MW of load-shedding in Dhaka, he announced.

Referring to Aninda’s statement, Shafiqur added, “I would request that this begin from parliament itself…. If other parts of Dhaka face one hour of load shedding, then there should be one here too. Let it begin here, so people understand that we are trying to build a Bangladesh based on equality.”

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed responded, “Parliament must continue functioning. The House cannot be shut down.”

Shafiqur then clarified, “I meant the parliament, not the parliamentary session. There are many working hours outside the session. That is what I meant.”