November 17, 2003	Monday	Ramazan 21, 1424

DHAKA, Nov 16: The Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) went into session on Sunday with its opposition Awami League continuing to remain outside the House.

The members of second largest opposition, Jatiy Party (JP) of former president H.M Ershad, on the other hand, staged a walked out on the opening day. They were protesting “false statement” of a minister on the ongoing ‘famine-like’ situation in the country’s northern districts.

AFP adds: The speaker of the Bangladeshi parliament on Sunday called on the main opposition Awami League party to end their near year-long boycott of proceedings.

“I urge the opposition to join the session and carry out their duties vested in them by the electorate,” Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar said as a new session of parliament opened.

He said the session was called to fulfil constitutional obligations and to strengthen the country’s democratic process.

The Awami League headed by for prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, now on a tour of northern Bangladesh, has boycotted the 300-seat parliament for nearly a year and said they had no reason to end the action as their demands were yet to be fulfilled.

The Awami League began the boycott to seek an apology for a government minister’s remarks against its leader, Sheikh Hasina, among other demands.

The government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who has a longstanding personal rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, has tried unsuccessfully to persuade the Awami League to return to parliament. Zia is currently in Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage.—AFP