4th session of 13th parliament begins today

Under constitutional obligations requiring a new session to convene within sixty days of the previous one's adjournment, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir summoned the session on October 14 using powers granted under Article 72(1) of the Constitution.

According to the Parliament Secretariat, the ongoing session will be brief, with five to six bills likely to be tabled, keeping in view the mandatory convening of another session in January. Besides regular question-and-answer segments, the session will feature urgent public interest notices and general discussions.

Earlier, the Business Advisory Committee convened its fifth meeting on Sunday at the cabinet room of the parliament building, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman, Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman, and other committee members attended the gathering.

As per the committee's decision, daily sittings will commence at 4:20 PM, excluding public holidays on Fridays and Saturdays, culminating on 18 November.

A total of 3,751 questions have been submitted by lawmakers for the current session, including 174 directed at the Prime Minister and 3,577 designated for various ministers.

During the advisory committee meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed declaring the parliament premises a smoke-free zone, a suggestion that received enthusiastic endorsement from attending members.