Prime minister Tarique Rahman announced a step to form a 10-member joint committee comprising members of both the government and the opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad to recommend solutions to the country’s ongoing energy crisis.
Speaking during an unscheduled discussion in the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday, the leader of the House requested the opposition bench to nominate five representatives to join the five members already selected from the treasury bench.
The move followed a proposal raised on Wednesday during the 19th sitting of the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad by opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman, who called for joint efforts to address the fuel crisis, which has been exacerbated by global tensions, including the US–Iran conflict.
In response, the prime minister announced the names of five ruling party lawmakers for the proposed committee, led by energy minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, who has been nominated as the committee chair.
The other members from the treasury bench are state minister for power and energy Anindya Islam Amit, along with ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan, Moinul Islam Khan, and Miah Nuruddin Ahmad Apu.
The members from the opposition include Dhaka-12 lawmaker Md Saiful Alam, Md Abdul Baten for Dhaka-16, Md Nurul Islam for Chapainawabganj-3, all three representing the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party lawmaker for Cumilla-4 Md Abul Hasnat, and Khelafat Majlis lawmaker for Sylhet-5 Mohammed Abul Hasan.
The prime minister urged the opposition to promptly submit their nominees so the committee could begin work without delay.
Addressing the parliament, he described the fuel crisis as a global challenge affecting countries worldwide.
Both sides, he said, have agreed on the need for cooperation, noting that the opposition had indicated it had proposals to contribute.
He emphasised that his party remained open to dialogue in national interest and was prepared to work jointly to identify practical solutions.
Responding to the proposal, opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman welcomed the move, adding that the opposition would soon provide the names of their representatives.
He hoped that the JS would become the central forum for resolving national issues and described the initiative as a positive step forward.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also voiced optimism that the opposition would quickly submit its nominations, noting that the current parliamentary session was due to conclude by the end of the month.
