President urges all to work together on basic issues

President M Abdul Hamid on Sunday called upon all, irrespective of party affiliations, opinions, classes and professions, to work together on basic issues like democracy, rule of law and country's development. The President made the call as he addressed the New Year's (2022) first session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) here.BSS.

The head of the state termed the parliament the focal point of people's expectations and said, "People are the source of all power... All public representatives must give priority to the public interests."

He also asked all to work together to build a 'Sonar Bangla' dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by eliminating terrorism, drugs, corruption and militancy from the country, achieved at the cost of millions of lives.

As per the parliamentary practice, the current session is the maiden one of the new year, where the President addresses the House every year. Subsequently, detailed discussions take place on his speech with the participation of lawmakers.

But due to COVID-19, this session, like the special JS session on the occasion of Mujb Borsho, will be held in a limited scale maintaining the health rules, said the parliamentary secretariat.

Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and parliamentarians of both treasury and opposition benches were present as Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury chaired the sitting.

The President called upon the treasury and opposition bench members to play their due and effective role in parliament in the greater interest of the country and its people.