Moldova's Parliament elects new speaker in vote boycotted by CommunistsAugust 28th, 2009 Moldova's Parliament elects new speakerCHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova's pro-Western coalition government has chosen a new parliament speaker in a vote that was boycotted by the Communist legislators. Last month, the four-party coalition won a narrow victory in a national election in Moldova, a former Soviet republic.
Bangladesh MPs irked by claim they waste moneyJuly 8th, 2009 DHAKA - Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has come under fire in parliament for its report claiming that lawmakers waste public money by arriving late or staying away, causing disruptions in the functioning of the house. Criticised by successive governments for its findings on issues of corruption and wastage of public funds, the TIB said in its report, Parliament Watch 2009, that Tk 54.1 million ($900,000) was wasted due to the quorum crisis in the inaugural session of the ninth parliament.
Bangladesh parliamentary panel wants ex-speaker expelledJuly 6th, 2009 DHAKA - An all-party probe committee of the Bangladesh parliament has recommended that former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar be stripped of his membership of the house for financial irregularities. The committee said it had studied constitutional provisions and parliamentary practices followed in India, Britain and Canada before recommending action against Sircar and two senior lawmakers of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
3 Dhaka officials siphoned off $285,000: Parliamentary panelJuly 2nd, 2009 DHAKA - A former speaker of Bangladesh parliament and two former officials may be asked to return Taka 17.1 million ($285,000) that a parliamentary committee has said were "misappropriated" by them. Former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, his deputy Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui and chief whip of the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) Handaker Delwar Hossain, drew the money as medical allowances and additional fuel allowances "ignoring the law", an all-party parliamentary probe committee has ruled.
Dhaka's ex-speaker may be tried for contempt of parliamentJune 28th, 2009 DHAKA - A former speaker of the Bangladesh parliament and two other senior officials may be tried for "contempt" after they boycotted a house committee probe meeting that is looking into corruption charges against them. Former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, deputy speaker Akhter Hamid Siddiqui and chief whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain of the eighth parliament did not appear before the committee Saturday to defend themselves against serious charges of financial irregularities and corruption.
Three Bangladesh officials face probe for graftJune 21st, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar and two other senior officials have been asked by an all-party parliamentary committee to explain alleged irregularities in financial transactions. The three, including former deputy speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui and former chief whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain are now senior opposition leaders belonging to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Probe into graft charges against former Bangladesh speakerMarch 20th, 2009 DHAKA - The first-ever probe into the financial dealings of Bangladesh's parliament secretariat will be conducted by an 11-member all-party committee constituted by Speaker Abdul Hamid. The body will look into allegations of financial anomalies, misuse of power and wastage of public money against previous speaker Jamiruddin Sircar.
Khaleda-led opposition returns to Bangladesh parliamentFebruary 24th, 2009 DHAKA - The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Monday joined the ninth parliament, ending its row of 17 working days with the speaker over seating arrangements in the house. The party led by two-term former prime minister Khaleda Zia said it was joining the house following an assurance after prolonged negotiations from Speaker Abdul Hamid of 'respectable seating arrangements in the House', Star Online reported.
Indian speaker offers to train Bangladesh MPsFebruary 23rd, 2009 DHAKA - Indian Parliament Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has offered to train Bangladesh MPs as he praised the restoration of democracy in the eastern neighbouring country as a 'positive development' for South Asia. Chatterjee, who arrived here Saturday on a three-day visit, praised the landslide victory of the centrist and Left-of-centre grand alliance led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh's opposition to end parliament boycottFebruary 23rd, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's mainstream opposition parties Sunday said they would to return to parliament, ending their 16-day boycott of parliamentary proceedings. 'We have decided to return to this session at the earliest,' opposition alliance chief whip Zainul Abedin Farruk said after a meeting of the parliamentary wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headed by former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
Hasina-led alliance victory good for South Asia: Somnath ChatterjeeFebruary 22nd, 2009 DHAKA - The restoration of democracy in Bangladesh is a 'positive development' for the entire South Asian region, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said here. Chatterjee, who arrived here Saturday on a three-day visit, praised the landslide victory of the centrist and left-of-centre grand alliance led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Pak envoy's remark on war criminals angers Dhaka lawmakersFebruary 17th, 2009 DHAKA - A remark by a visiting Pakistani envoy that the 'time is not ripe' for Bangladesh to try 'war criminals' who are accused of atrocities on civilian population during the 1971 freedom movement has angered Dhaka's lawmakers. People who collaborated with the Pakistan government during the freedom movement are called 'war criminals' in Bangladesh.
Dhaka opposition wants parliamentary debate on India pactsFebruary 16th, 2009 DHAKA - The opposition in Bangladesh wants to debate the pacts the Sheikh Hasina government signed with India last week. Opposition leader and two-term former prime minister Khaleda Zia and her allies are boycotting parliamentary proceedings demanding front seats for most of its 32 members.
Bangladesh parliament elects new presiding officersJanuary 24th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's ninth Jatiya Sangsad or parliament had a formal start Sunday as it unanimousloy elected a lawyer and a former soldier as its presiding officers. Advocate Abdul Hamid is speaker and Col (retd) Shawkat Ali is deputy speaker for the house that has to transact massive lawmaking business, the UNB news agency reported.
Outgoing Bangladesh Speaker warns against 'parliamentary autocracy'January 3rd, 2009 DHAKA - The outgoing Speaker of Bangladesh's parliament has warned of a 'parliamentary autocracy' in the wake of the ninth general elections throwing up a house with the government benches enjoying a massive majority. Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, who lost the Dec 29 poll, said: 'People's faith in the democratic practices would go if the ruling parties resort to muzzling the opposition in the house and oppress them outside.'
After administering the oath to members of the ninth house, Sircar told Bdnews24.com online newspaper Saturday he believed the 31-strong Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-Jamaat-e-Islami combine, to which he belonged, would be able to challenge the treasury benches in parliament 'unless they are obstructed,' New Age newspaper said.
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