The notices were submitted throughout the current session of parliament.

Awami League (AL) and Jatiya Party lawmakers submitted as many as 162 notices demanding discussions on different issues adjourning the scheduled business of the House.

In their notices the opposition lawmakers also demanded discussions on unbridled corruption, government's failure to deliver according to its promises, rise of Islamic militancy, Phulbaria killings, August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally, and proposed reforms in the caretaker government system and Election Commission.

But the speaker accepted none of the notices neither had he allowed any formal discussion on any of the topics throughout the current session of parliament.

"I hope the government will take steps to control prices of essentials and corruption," the speaker told the House while scrapping the notices.

In defence of his decision of not allowing any discussion on the topics, the speaker categorically said the issues of August 21 grenade attack, killing of former finance minister Shah ASM Kibria, Kansat killings, and grenade attack on British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury are not current affairs.

About the killings in Phulbaria, the speaker said the government took steps and the situation there is peaceful now.

About other issues, the speaker said contents of some of the notices were not clear and the contents of many had been discussed on points of order in the current session.

Apart from the AL lawmakers, Jatiya Party (JP) Lawmaker Mashiur Rahman Ranga submitted seven notices demanding discussions on price hike of essentials, crises of diesel and power supply, and Phulbaria killings.

AL lawmakers Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammad Nasim, Rahmat Ali, Faruk Khan, Shajahan Khan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shamsur Rahman Sharif, Atiur Rahman Atik and Ponchanon Biswas had submitted notices from the main opposition, who kept on raising the issues on points of order.

AL lawmaker Rahmat Ali on a point of order yesterday said the government has completely failed to control skyrocketing prices of essentials. "The people are starving due to the price hike," he added.

In response Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar said the people will give their verdict on whether the government has failed.

AL lawmaker Faruk Khan on a separate point of order blasted the government for acute crisis of power supply.

But BNP lawmaker Shahidul Islam who is also the chairman of parliamentary standing committee on power, energy and mineral resources ministry on a point of order denied 'severe power crisis'.

JP WALKS OUT
Ershad led JP, the second largest opposition in parliament, walked out of the House alleging that the government is reluctant to implement the demands for declaring Rangpur as a division and for establishing an educational board there.

Rawshan Ershad, leader of JP parliamentary party, led the walk out raising their demands on a point of order. The JP lawmakers however returned to the House after 10 minutes.