United News of Bangladesh

The BNP has started the final selection process for nominating candidates for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, with aspirants appearing before the party’s nomination board. The nomination board began interviewing the aspirants on Friday afternoon at the BNP Chairman’s Gulshan office. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told reporters that interviews of those who collected and submitted nomination forms for the reserved seats started in the afternoon. “As per the party constitution, the nomination board is headed by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, and its members are from the party’s standing committee,” he said. On the first day, candidates from Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur and Faridpur divisions are being interviewed. More than 400 aspirants are taking part in the interviews, Rizvi said. He said interviews for candidates from Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Cumilla and Mymensingh divisions will begin at 3:00pm on Saturday. Earlier, the Election Commission on April 8 announced the schedule for the reserved women’s seat election. According to the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is April 21, while scrutiny will take place on April 22 and 23. Appeals against scrutiny decisions can be filed on April 26 and will be disposed of on April 27 and 28. BNP has political track record of managing crises, achieving growth: Titumir Election symbols will be allotted on April 30, and voting will be held on May 12. The EC said all preparations have been taken to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. According to seat distribution, the BNP-led alliance will get 36 seats, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami alliance 13 seats, and independents one seat. Since early afternoon, BNP aspirants and their supporters gathered in front of the party Chairman’s Gulshan office. Security personnel allowed only the candidates to enter the premises. Inside the office, a designated waiting area has been arranged for the aspirants. Highlighting the criteria for nomination, Rizvi said the party will consider the contributions of women leaders, especially their role during the last 15-16 years of political struggle. He mentioned that many women leaders faced harassment, including cases, attacks, and intimidation during that period. The BNP leader also said educational background, ability to speak in Parliament, and knowledge of lawmaking will be taken into account in selecting the final candidates. Rizvi expressed hope that the party will make proper evaluations in choosing the women members of parliament.

Authorities have issued instructions regarding entry and parking arrangements for invited guests attending the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad at the parliament complex on Thursday. According to a press release, three gates of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban will remain open for invited guests: Manipuripara Gate (Gate-6), Bakultala Gate (Gate-12) and Asad Gate (Gate-1). Guests have been requested to avoid using the Manipuripara Gate as heavy traffic is expected there and instead enter the parliament complex through Bakultala Gate and Asad Gate to help reduce congestion and ensure smooth access. 13th Parliament set to commence with first session Thursday The release also asked guests to park their vehicles at designated locations according to the parking stickers sent with their invitation cards. The stickers include Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Shapla, Bakul, Shiuli and Shimul. Vehicles bearing Padma, Meghna, Jamuna and Shapla stickers will be allowed to park at different locations inside the parliament premises, while those with Bakul, Shimul and Shiuli stickers will be parked at the old Dhaka International Trade Fair ground. Vehicles of electronic and print media organisations will have to park in a single line along the main road of Manik Mia Avenue. All invited guests have been requested to get down from their vehicles at Tunnel Road and then enter the parliament complex. They have also been asked to minimise the time spent getting down from vehicles and ensure that drivers or accompanying persons remain inside the vehicles. Guests and all concerned have been requested to follow the instructions of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s traffic division at the entry gates and designated parking areas.

The BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) on Wednesday authorised Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman to decide the candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. “We have entrusted the Leader of the House with the responsibility of deciding the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. He will take the decision, and we will know it tomorrow,” said Chief Whip Nurul Islam. He came up with the remarks while speaking to reporters at the LD Hall after a meeting of BNP’s parliamentary party in the ruling party’s parliamentary party room on the ninth floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, with Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman in the chair. The first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will begin at 11am on Thursday, when the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are scheduled to be elected. Nurul Islam said the proceedings of Thursday’s sitting will begin with the Speaker’s chair vacant. The session will start with recitation from the Holy Quran. After that, the Leader of the House will propose the name of a senior MP to preside over the sitting temporarily, which will be seconded by another MP. The nominated member will then preside over the session. BPP meets to finalise Speaker, Deputy Speaker candidates Nurul Islam also said 133 ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government will be placed before parliament on Thursday. A special committee will be formed at the sitting to examine the ordinances, he said, adding that the committee will include members from both the treasury bench and the opposition. Replying to a question, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister showed “great generosity” by offering the post of Deputy Speaker to the opposition. “But we have not received any positive response from them so far. If we do, necessary steps will be taken accordingly,” he said. The Chief Whip said they want the 13th parliament to be effective and vibrant where problems will be resolved through discussion and debate.

As the process of forming the 13th Jatiya Sangsad gets underway following the national election, public attention has once again turned to the state privileges enjoyed by members of parliament (MPs). The Election Commission (EC) has published the two gazette notifications of the 297 newly elected members of parliament elected to the 13th Parliament as well as the referendum results. The two gazettes were issued on Friday night by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed. The process for administering the oath to the newly elected lawmakers will now be arranged. Amid this process, the focus has shifted to the wide range of financial benefits, facilities, and special entitlements provided to lawmakers under existing laws. According to official rules, an MP is entitled not only to a monthly salary but also to multiple state-funded allowances and privileges, as outlined in the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order, 1973, and its subsequent amendments. These benefits cover allowances, transport, healthcare, travel, insurance, office expenses and telecommunications. MPs’ Benefits Monthly Salary and Allowances: Basic Salary-Tk 55,000, Constituency allowance-Tk12,500 entertainment allowance-Tk 5,000, transport allowance-Tk 70,000 (including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and driver’s salary), office expense allowance-Tk 15,000, laundry allowance-Tk 1,500, miscellaneous allowance-Tk 6,000. Vehicle Facilities Duty-free import of a car, jeep, or microbus, exempt from customs, VAT, and taxes, access to import a new vehicle under the same scheme after five years, travel Allowances Air, rail, or water travel: 1.5 times the highest class fare, road travel: per-kilometre allowance and domestic travel-Tk120,000 annual travel allowance or travel pass Daily Allowances While on duty daily allowance Tk 750, travel allowance Tk 75. Gazettes of newly elected MPs, referendum results published Attendance at parliamentary or committee sessions: daily allowance Tk 800, travel allowance Tk 200 Medical Facilities Government-level medical care for MPs and their families include monthly medical allowance Tk 700 Insurance Government insurance of Tk 10 lakh in case of death or permanent disability while on duty Optional Grant Fund Up to Tk 5 lakh per year for discretionary use Telecommunication Facilities Official telephone connection at MPs’ residences and monthly telephone and call expenses Tk 7,800 Tax Benefits All allowances and benefits received by MPs are exempt from income tax. These provisions are aimed at supporting MPs in performing their legislative and constituency responsibilities efficiently.