Parliament's fourth session begins Monday, July National Charter likely in focus

The fourth session of the 13th National Parliament begins on Monday, 9 November. The session, to be chaired by Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, will start at 3:30 in the afternoon and run until 18 November.

Alongside the tabling of three ordinances and government bills and discussion on them, important issues such as constitutional reform and implementing the referendum verdict may take priority in this session.

According to Parliament Secretariat sources, the short session may run for only eight working days until 18 November.

The duration and programme of the session were finalised at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee held on Sunday afternoon, chaired by Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman and other senior members and whips were present at the meeting.

After the meeting, Chief Whip of the National Parliament Nurul Islam Moni said the session will begin at 4:20 in the afternoon every day except public holidays. The Speaker may change the time and working days if needed.

For this session, 174 questions have been submitted for the Prime Minister and 3,577 questions for other ministers.

The session will carry out regular business such as government bills, question-and-answer sessions and general discussion on notices of public importance. But the differences between the government and the opposition over how to implement the July National Charter and the referendum verdict may become the centre of political discussion.

However, sources confirmed that no bill to amend the constitution is coming in this session.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned all meetings, gatherings, processions and demonstrations in and around the National Parliament building to keep the session running smoothly. The ban will remain in force until the session ends.

Earlier, the third session of the 13th National Parliament was held from 27 August to 10 September. Six important bills were passed in that session, including the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Bill and the National Human Rights Commission Bill.