Budget session opens with condolence

The first budget session of the current parliament commenced on Sunday with lawmakers unanimously adopting a condolence motion in memory of 16 former ministers, state ministers and members of parliament.

The House paid tribute to three former ministers-Tofail Ahmed, former MP from Bhola-1; Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, former MP from Chattogram-1; and Barrister Shafique Ahmed, who served as a Technocrat Minister.

Parliament also remembered three former state ministers: Syed Md Kaisar of the now-defunct Sylhet-17 constituency, Prof MA Mannan of Gazipur-2 and Mizanur Rahman Sinha of Munshiganj-2.

The condolence motion further honoured the memories of 10 former members of parliament: GM Fazlul Haque (Chandpur-3), ABM Anwarul Haque (Manikganj-1), Md Shamsuddoha (Nilphamari-2), Abu Nur Mohammad Bahaul Haque (Narayanganj-3), Dewan Shamsul Abedin (Sunamganj-3), Golam Sarwar Milon (Manikganj-4), Moslem Uddin (Mymensingh-6), Dabirul Islam (Thakurgaon-2), Abdul Matin (Moulvibazar-2) and AKM Rahmat Ullah (Dhaka-11).

In addition to former political leaders, lawmakers expressed sorrow over the deaths of several prominent personalities, including eminent educationist Prof Dilara Hafiz, spouse of Speaker Hafiz Uddin; National Professor Sufia Ahmed; poet and journalist Helal Hafiz; cultural personality and Chhayanaut President Sanjida Khatun; eminent historian and writer Badruddin Umar; and Ramisa Akter, who was killed after rape.

The House also conveyed its condolences over the loss of lives in various accidents both at home and abroad.

The adoption of the motion marked the opening proceedings of the budget session, with parliamentarians collectively honouring the contributions of the deceased and expressing sympathy to their families and loved ones.