The 19th session of the 10th parliament began on Sunday afternoon with the session scheduled to conclude on February 28.
President Md Abdul Hamid, while addressing the inaugural session of 2018 in the evening, urged countrymen to forge unity once again to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ by uprooting terrorism and militancy from the society.
He said, “We have to work together to root out terrorism and militancy from the society imbued with the spirit of Liberation War."
In his 186-page scripted speech, President Hamid highlighted the present government's development activities in different areas.
He mentioned the government's moves to build hunger and poverty-free, progressive democratic and non-communal ‘Digital Bangladesh, as envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Rawshan Ershad were present during the president’s speech.
The session began with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair at 4:05pm.
Earlier, the parliament adopted obituary references on the death of 16 noted personalities, including Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Sayedul Haq, lawmaker Golam Mostafa, former Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mahiuddin Chowdhury and Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Law Minister Anisul Haq, Deputy Speaker M Fazley Rabbi Mia, Chief whip ASM Feroz, lawmaker Abdul Matin Khasru, among others, took part in the discussion.
The parliament also expressed deep shock recalling the causalities of people who lost their lives in the earthquake at the frontier between Iraq and Iran, bomb attack in a mosque in Egypt, cyclone in The Philippines and in accidents occurred in different places home and abroad.
A one-minute silence was also observed in the House as a mark of respect towards the departed souls.
Later, Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury adjourned the House at 7.20pm today.
The House will resume its sitting at 4pm on January 9.
Earlier, the Business Advisory Committee of the parliament held a meeting to take some decisions about this session.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury is the head of this committee.
BSS said it was decided at the meeting that the House would sit at 4:00pm every working day, and the speaker will have the authority to bring any changes to this end.
Besides, the Business Advisory Committee also decided to hold a 45-hour discussion on the president’s address to the House.