The first session of parliament will continue until 30 April, according to a decision taken at the first meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Saturday.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, who chairs the committee, presided over the meeting held in the cabinet room of the parliament building.
The committee discussed the allocation of time for parliamentary business and the overall duration of the session and decided to allow 50 hours of general debate on the president’s address.
It also decided that, except on government holidays, the House will sit every day at 3pm. The committee authorised the speaker to change the timing or working days of the session if necessary.
The meeting was attended by committee member, Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Other members present included Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman; Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain; Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Chief Whip Nurul Islam; Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman; ATM Azharul Islam; Opposition Chief Whip Md Nahid Islam; and Muhammad Naushad Zamir.
Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal attended as a special invitee of the speaker.
A total of 468 questions have been submitted for the session, including eight for the prime minister and 460 for other ministers.
Under Rule 71, 27 notices seeking attention have been submitted, while 97 notices for resolutions have been received under Rule 131.
Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Mowla provided secretarial support at the meeting, which was also attended by senior officials.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the committee discussed the duration of the upcoming session, issues likely to be debated, potential legislation and the time allocated for debate on the president’s address.
He said the proposal to form a Constitutional Reform Council may come up for discussion on the floor of parliament.
The minister also said that after the sitting on 15 March, the House will be adjourned and will resume on 29 March after Eid.
He added that ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government will be sent to a special committee for scrutiny before being placed before parliament as a report.
Meanwhile, after a two-day adjournment, the first session will resume on Sunday at 11am.
The session began on Thursday with BNP Standing Committee member Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain presiding.
Parliament later elected the speaker and deputy speaker. The president administered the oath to both the speaker and the deputy speaker.
The House then continued under the chairmanship of the newly elected speaker.
Opposition MPs staged a walkout on the first day of the session. After completing the day’s business, the speaker adjourned the sitting until 11am on Sunday.
