President M Abdul Hamid on Saturday prorogued the 7th session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad that was convened just for over an hour amid nationwide COVID-19 shutdown due to constitutional obligations, reports BSS.
“I, President Mohammad Abdul Hamid in line with the power vested upon me by the Constitution . . . order the prorogation of the session called due to constitutional obligations,” Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury quoted as saying the presidential order. The president said the prorogation was ordered following a brief session to evade public gatherings in people’s interest in view of the novel coronavirus situation.
The prorogation order came after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wrapped up the session in her valedictory speech as the Leader of the House. The single-day session was limited in adoption of an obituary reference on several distinguished personalities, including former food minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, who died since the prorogation of the last parliamentary session.
The speaker in her concluding address urged the lawmakers as well as the countrymen to follow the COVID-19 halth guidelines including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 31-ponit directives to prevent further spread of epidemic. She prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of those people who died of COVID-19 and wished early recovery of the people infected with the virus.
Chaudhury thanked the Premier, Opposition Leader, MPs including whips, JS Secretariat and other concerned officials and employees including law enforcement agency personnel and fire servicemen and newsmen for their assistance in holding the session in an unusual situation. The seventh session of the 11th parliament began at 5pm on Saturday with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair just to fulfill the constitutional obligation, reports UNB.
The second session of this year will be very short considering the safety issue amid the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities have already urged journalists not to go to Parliament in person and cover the JS session staying at home from Sangsad Television as it broadcasts JS sessions live. The House went into session after a 60-day recess as the 6th session was prorogued on February 18 last.
According to the Constitution, the gap between the conclusion of one session and the first sitting of Parliament in the next session shall not exceed a period of 60 days. On April 6, President Md Abdul Hamid convened the 7th session of the current parliament exercising the power bestowed upon him as per Clause (1) of Article 72 of the constitution. The session is going to be prorogued just after the adaptation of a condolence motion in the very first sitting.