The 11th Parliament has begun its budget session for the 2019-20 fiscal year (FY20).
The session began around 5pm with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
It is the third session of the current parliament and first budget session of the Awami League (AL) government since its assumed office after a landslide victory in the Dec 30 election.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will place the national budget for FY20 in the House on Thursday (Jun 13) -- his first budget as the finance minister.
It will also be the 19th budget by the AL government and the 48th national budget in the history of Bangladesh.
Prior to Tuesday’s session, the business advisory committee sat at the Parliament Complex and fixed the session’s minutes and tenure
The day’s proceedings began with recitation from the Holy Quran.
Later, the Speaker nominates a panel of five Chairpersons. In the absence of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, the person whose name is at the top of the panel, from amongst those present in the sitting, takes the Chair.
Then, the House unanimously adopted obituary references on a number of distinguished personalities, including former minister, ex lawmakers and a number of cultural personalities.
The Speaker moved the obituary references separately with brief resumes on those who died after prorogation of last session of the 11th Parliament.
The Speaker while moving the references said the House expresses its deep shock at the death of former minister Barrister Aminul Haq and ex-lawmakers ABM Taleb Ali, Abdul AliMridah, M Abdul Majid Master and AKM Bazlul Karim.
The house also condoled the death of former Managing Director of Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Rafique Ahmed Siddique,brother in-law of Sheikh Rehana, younger daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Additional IGP of Police Rawshan Ara who was killed in a road accident while working a peace keeping mission in Congo, noted dramatist Professor Momtajuddin Ahmed, Ekushey Padak recipients singer Subir Nandi, Poet Hayat Saif, noted Nazrulgeeti singer and researcher Khalid Hossen, noted commedian Anisur Rahman, dramatist Saleh Ahmed and actress Maya Gosh.
The house also expressed deep shock at the life losses caused by the recent devastating cyclonic storm Foni, aircraft accident in Russia and other accidental deaths held at different places at home and abroad.
They conveyed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family and prayed for the lasting peace of his departed soul.
The lawmakers also observed one-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
Later, a munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls. The munajat was conducted by Faridul Haq MP.
Budget session to end on Jul 11
As per the business advisory committee’s decision, the budget session will begin at 3pm daily and continue till Jul 11.
The House will sit on the weekend on Jun 22 and Jun 29.
Parliament will discuss on supplementary budget on Jun 16 and pass it on next day, followed by general discussion on proposed notational budget on Jun 18.