PM urges AL to return to JS

"I once again call upon the opposition to return to parliament... Let us all avoid parliament boycott and hartal as the modes of political protest," she said in her valedictory speech at the close of the eight (budget) session of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Khaleda said her government had introduced parliamentary democracy in 1991 to make politics healthy and descent with the hope that the practice of logic and merit would replace muscle-flexing in politics.

"We tried to bring back liberalism, tolerance and healthy competition in politics. But it is a matter of regret that our friends in the main opposition party did not respond," she said.

Applauded by thumping of desks by the lawmakers of both treasury and opposition benches, more than an hour-long speech of the leader of the house touched on budget, current political scenario, opposition's role in the present democratic dispensation, development and programmes on science and information technology, agriculture, forests and environment, housing and public works, tourism, industries, trade and economy and foreign policy and water resources.

She posed a question to the opposition leaders what would be the destiny of democracy if there was no parliament and blamed the opposition for indulging in a deep-rooted conspiracy.