Budget session for fiscal year 2021-22 starts

The budget session for fiscal year 2021-22 began at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and is being presided over by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury around 5:00pm today.

This is the 13th session of the 11th Parliament and also the third budget session of the Awami League government.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will place the budget for 2021-22 fiscal at 3:00pm, tomorrow.

Several measures have been taken to curb the risk of Covid-19 infection during the budget session of the Parliament.

MPs are taking part in the session wearing masks and gloves while maintaining social distance.

At the beginning of the session, the speaker said, "This session will be conducted in compliance with all health guidelines."

Parliament has taken various health safety measures during the budget session. Apart from the budget related officials and employees of the Parliament Secretariat; others have been barred from coming to the Parliament premises

Media personnel are not being allowed to cover the session. Instead they have been requested to cover the session through live telecast on Sangsad TV.

As per the recommendation of the security agencies most of the officers and employees working in the Parliament session and MPs have been tested for Covid-19.

Physically ill and elderly MPs were discouraged from attending the session. 

The decision to ensure the presence of 100 to 120 MPs every day was followed on the first day.

At the beginning of the House proceedings, the speaker nominated a five-member panel of chairmen who will preside over sittings of the House in the absence of the speaker and deputy speaker.

The panel members are: Awami League lawmakers – Shahiduzzaman Sarker (Naogaon-2), AB Tajul Islam (Brahmanbaria-6), Mazaharul Hoque Prodhan, (Panchagarh-1), Jatiya Party MP Anisul Islam Mahmud (Chattogram-5 ) and Rumana Ali, elected in reserved seats for women in Parliament (women seat-14). 

The speaker placed a condolence motion in the Parliament commemorating those who died in between the last and the beginning of this session.

A condolence motion was tabled in the Parliament for late MP Abdul Matin Khashru from Cumilla-5   (Brahmmanpara and Burichong upazila) and Aslamul Haque, Dhaka-14, who died on April 14 and April 4, respectively.