5 new parliamentary committees formed, none chaired by opposition MPs

Parliament yesterday (8 September) constituted five more standing committees, all chaired by BNP lawmakers, leaving the opposition without a chairperson in any of the newly formed committees.

The development took the total number of parliamentary committees constituted so far in the 13th Parliament to 45.

The five new committees are the parliamentary standing committees on the Ministries of Social Welfare; Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment; Railways; Science and Technology; and Health and Family Welfare.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni placed the proposals before the House, which later approved them by voice vote.

Md Shahjahan (Noakhali-4) was named chairman of the Social Welfare Ministry committee, while AKM Fazlul Haque Milan (Gazipur-5) will head the committee on Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Mohammad Ali Asghar (Khulna-5) was made chairman of the Railways Ministry committee, while M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu (Natore-2) will lead the Science and Technology Ministry committee.

SM Rafiqul Islam (Gazipur-3) was appointed chairman of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry committee.

Two standing committees reconstituted

Parliament also reconstituted two existing standing committees, making changes to two members in each.

The Water Resources Ministry committee is now headed by Mohammad Shofiqul Haque Milon (Rajshahi-3), while Abul Kalam Azad Siddique (Tangail-7) chairs the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry committee.

The changes involved replacing two members on each committee.

45 of 50 committees now formed

There are 50 parliamentary committees in the Jatiya Sangsad, comprising 39 ministry-related standing committees and 11 subject-based committees.

With Tuesday’s decisions, 45 of the 50 committees have now been constituted.