Lack of MPs to speak on budget forces Parliament to adjourn early

Parliament has wrapped up early on the first day of budget discussions due to a lack of participants.

Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah adjourned the session barely two hours after it started at 10am on Wednesday.

The previous Parliament session had gone on for at least an hour longer. 

Around 12pm, the deputy speaker said: “Honourable members, I seek your attention. A total of 45 hours is allotted to discussion of the budget, 10 hours of that is for the Opposition. The remaining time is for government and independent MPs.”

“But I’m sorry to inform you that there is not one name here from the Opposition. There are several present on the government side but they don’t wish to speak. I’m forced to adjourn early at 12:15pm.”

The chief whips for the opposition and the treasury submit to the speaker names of MPs who will talk before Parliament and also decides the length of their address. The speaker, if needed, increases the time.

MPs from ruling Awami League, Ali Ashraf, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapon and Israfil Alam took part in the general discussion besides the independent MP Tahjeeb Alam Siddiqui.

“You are not submitting names. I do not believe it will be possible to provide time if you want it later,” said Miah, who was deputing for ailing Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

The budget was presented on Jun 2, a day after the 11th session began.

The Business Advisory Committee on the first day of the session decided on 45 hours for general discussions.