Budget session concludes a day early

The budget session of the 10th Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) ended on Wednesday night. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was in the chair on the last day of the session that saw passing of the national budget for fiscal year 2015-2016. Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed the annual expenditure close to Tk3 trillion for FY2015-2016 on June 4, which was passed on June 30 after long discussions. The Speaker declared the session closed after reading out the presidential order. The sixth session that began on June 1 heard criticisms against what is being dubbed a ‘wheat scandal’, saw agitation by leaders of the coalition government an uproar over Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad’s speech on the last day. The speaker thanked Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad, and Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah for assisting in the parliamentary proceedings. The Business Advisory Committee had decided the budget session would end on July 9 but the President closed it a day earlier, according to a news agency.