Opposition should join JS for national welfare: PM

Opposition role in democratic system focused during Hasina-Moriarty meet

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the abstaining opposition party should join Parliament and keep their constructive opinions in the House on every national issue for the nation''s welfare, reports UNB.
She made the suggestion when US Ambassador
James F Moriarty paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at the PMO Tuesday and the two sides discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral interest of Bangladesh and the United States.
The main opposition BNP has long been abstaining from attending the parliament session following a dispute over sitting arrangement in the front row.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Prime Minister''s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the US Ambassador discussed various issues of bilateral, regional and international development.
As they discussed the role of opposition party in a democratic system, Sheikh Hasina told the US envoy that her government is "firm on strengthening further the foundation of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh".
"The people of the country expect the opposition party join parliament and help the nation in achieving its desired development targets by placing their opinions and views," the Prime Minister said.
Hasina and Moriarty also exchanged views on the adversities of global warming and the challenges of climate change as a result.
The recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New York on the occasion of UN General Assembly session and her various events there were also discussed during the meeting.
Moriarty mentioned Bangladesh''s success in disaster management and highly praised Sheikh Hasina''s speech at the UNGA and the World Climate Conference-3 in Geneva. He said she has been successful in giving the world community "necessary direction for identifying the risks of climate change and the solutions to tackle the challenges".
"Besides, Sheikh Hasina''s speech has presented the significance of food security in a world facing the economic recession," the US Ambassador was quoted as saying.
The Prime Minister in the meeting mentioned her talks with United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon, US President Barack Obama and her wife Michel Obama, and US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton at various events in New York.
Sheikh Hasina told the US Ambassador that she has invited US President and Mrs Obama to visit Bangladesh and they accepted her invitation.
As Moriarty praised Bangladesh''s role and contribution to UN Peacekeeping Mission, Hasina said Bangladesh deserves high representation in the policymaking level of the peace-policing operations under blue-helmet.
She again mourned the death of Senator Edward Kennedy and prayed for his departed soul. The premier said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman''s family and the Kennedy family have a close relation at the familial level.
Sheikh Hasina noted with gladness that late Edward Kennedy''s son Patrick Kennedy has joined the Bangladesh Congressional Caucus.
The Prime Minister also urged the US government to give duty-and quota-free access of more Bangladeshi products to the American market.
Hasina called for more US investment in various development sectors of Bangladesh and boosting bilateral trade and business.
The Premier said her present government is working relentlessly to create a social-safety net in the country through creating employment opportunities, providing mass people with quality health and education facilities.
In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned that the government has a plan to make education up to degree level free and promised to attain food security of the country again like the past Awami League government.
She further laid emphasis on the reopening of Dhaka-NY flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
As various matters of Bangladeshi expatriates in the USA came up for discussion, Sheikh Hasina requested the US government to take maximum care of the Bangladeshi people over there.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim was present.