Kalim Uddin Named Telecom Committee Chair

Kalim Uddin Ahmed, lawmaker from Sunamganj-5, has been appointed chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

However, opposition lawmakers have not been given the chairmanship of any of the 10 parliamentary standing committees formed on Wednesday, including the committee overseeing the telecommunications and ICT ministry.

The proposals to form the committees were unanimously approved by voice vote during Wednesday’s parliamentary session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaisar Kamal.

On behalf of the Leader of the House, Chief Whip Mohammad Nurul Islam placed the proposals for the formation of the committees one after another.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology will be chaired by Kalim Uddin Ahmed (Sunamganj-5). Its members are the minister concerned, Mohammad Abul Khair Bhuiyan (Lakshmipur-2), Mohammad Tamizuddin (Dhaka-20), Mohammad Harunur Rashid (Rajbari-2), Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan (Cumilla-10), Monsura Akhter (Reserved Women’s Seat-26), Mohammad Keramat Ali (Chapainawabganj-1), Saifuddin Ahmed Hanjala (Madaripur-1) and Obaidullah Salafi (Nilphamari-3).

Mohammad Amanullah Aman, lawmaker from Dhaka-2, has been appointed chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui of Tangail-7 will chair the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

The Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will be chaired by Alhaj G K Gaus of Habiganj-3. Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, lawmaker from Dhaka-3, has been appointed chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Standing Committee on the Ministry of Education will be chaired by Md Selim Bhuiyan of Cumilla-2.

Selima Rahman, a lawmaker from a reserved women’s seat, will chair the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

Rakibul Islam Bakul of Khulna-3 has been appointed chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.

Earlier, Opposition Leader Shafiqueur Rahman had demanded representation for the opposition in the chairmanship of standing committees in proportion to its representation in Parliament.

Following the formation of the committees, opposition deputy leader Abdullah Mohammad Taher expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of opposition lawmakers from the chairmanship of any committee.

He said, 'Although there was an understanding with the ruling party on 26% representation of opposition members in committee membership in proportion to the number of opposition lawmakers in Parliament, the opposition was given no representation in the chairmanship.'

Responding to Taher, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, 'There is no constitutional or parliamentary procedural requirement to appoint opposition members as chairmen of standing committees in proportion to their seats.'

He added that, based on a political understanding, the opposition had been given 26% additional representation in committee membership.
//DBTechSME/IMST//