JS sitting adjourned for quorum crisis
Parliament sitting was adjourned as it fell short of a quorum last night, first since the ninth parliament began journey on January 25, 2009.
"Honourable MPs, now I have to adjourn the sitting of parliament for lack of a quorum," Deputy Speaker Col (retd) Shawkat Ali said at 9:08pm.
Presence of lawmakers was thin at the beginning of the session at 4:45pm, 15 minutes behind schedule. Around 9:00pm, it came down to 48, falling short by 12 to run session.
Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujib-ul-Haque drew the chair's attention to the quorum shortage.
The deputy speaker adjourned the sitting till 4:30pm today.
Before calling it a day, he asked treasury bench whips Mujibul Haque and Shaikh Abdul Wohab whether there was any possibility of a quorum to appear.
In response, Abdul Wohab said there is no scope to form the quorum and it will not be right to run the House amid such situation.
However, four MPs, who were in the lobbies, entered the chamber increasing the number to 52.
Awami League-led grand alliance has 302 of total 345 MPs in the Jatiya Sangsad. The AL alone has 268, Jatiya Party 29, JSD three and Workers Party two MPs. The BNP-led opposition, which has been boycotting the House, has only 39 MPs.
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