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Govt plans virtual budget session

MPs to participate from home


Published : 15 May 2020 09:51 PM | Updated : 02 Sep 2020 07:27 AM

The government is planning to arrange a virtual parliament session for placing the budget for the fiscal year 2020-21 to avoid gathering and hence the risk of coronavirus infection among the MPs, security personnel, parliament staff, and other people concerned.

Following the virus infection to a large number of the security staff of parliament including police and Ansar, many of the parliamentarians and their family members worried about the probable transmission of the deadly virus while participating in the budget session of the parliament, sources said.

Traditionally the budget session is longer than any other session, and there is no scope to pass the budget without the presence of all the members of parliament in the discussion on the proposed budget.

Besides, a huge number of law enforcement personnel and parliament staffs also have to discharge their duties which creates a huge crowd in and around the parliament building. That is why the risk of virus transmission is also high during the budget session, concerned people said.

Considering the risk factors, the government high ups are planning to hold a virtual budget session for the first time in the history of the country.

If the decision is finalised, parliamentarians will take part in the budget discussion from their homes using a computer with an internet connection. They will watch the whole session through a camera and microphone installed with the computer. They will also give their opinions and cast votes for passing the budget virtually.

According to the parliament sources, the plan of holding the virtual budget session is completely depending on the law.
If existing law permits a virtual parliament session considering the emergency situation, the President will call the budget session in the stipulated time.

According to the official sources, the budget session is going to begin in the second week of June. The Finance Ministry has already informed the officials concerned about placing the new budget on June 11.

The ministry has also sent a letter to the Parliament Secretariat for taking necessary preparations to hold the budget session.
Health experts said as Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban is centrally air-conditioned and the session room is fully airtight, the risk of transmission of coronavirus is very high.

Captain M M Naim Rahman, who is looking after the security of the parliamentarians as the Sergeant-at-Arms of the parliament said, “I am still unaware of the decision of holding virtual budget session.’’
Actually, the law section looks into the matter, he added.

Former State Minister for Home Affairs Md. Shamsul Haque Tuku, who is a ruling party MP from Pabna-1 constituency, said, “ If the transmission of coronavirus spreads further, we must take another option for holding the budget session.”

Because it is very important to pass the budget for smoothly conducting economic activities of the country, he opined.
Another ruling Awami League MP from Panchagarh-1 Md. Mazaharul Hoque Prodhan said, “One of our parliament members has already been infected with the coronavirus.”

But I did not get any official letter of holding virtual budget session so far, he stated.

Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP and Deputy Speaker Advocate Md. Fazle Rabbi Miah could not be reached for their comments, despite several attempts.

In the draft, it has been proposed to allocate Tk 2,05,145 for the government’s Annual Development Program (ADP) in the national budget for the fiscal year 2020-21.
Of the total ADP outlay, Tk 1,34,643 crore will come from the local sources while Tk 70,501.72 crore from the foreign sources.