For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Awami League lawmaker Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury has been reappointed as the chief whip in Parliament, while former Bangladesh cricket team captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza MP has been newly appointed as a whip of the ruling party.
Two separate gazette notifications were issued in this regard, appointing the chief whip and five whips in Parliament, according to a UNB report Tuesday.
Whips have an important role in Westminster-style democracies, of maintaining party discipline within Parliament. They are tasked with ensuring all members of the party turn up to vote on legislative matters.
As per the Article 3 (1) of the Bangladesh (Whips) Order, 1972, the President appointed Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury (Madaripur-1) as the chief whip in the 12th Parliament, which is set to go into its first sitting on January 30 next. A gazette notification was issued from the Parliament Secretariat in this regard.
Alongside Mashrafe, Iqbalur Rahim (Dinajpur-3), Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon (Joypurhat-2), and two new names, Nazrul Islam Babu (Narayanganj-2) and Saimum Sarwar Kamal (Cox’s Bazar-3), were also appointed as whips for the AL. A separate gazette notification was issued over the appointment of the five whips.
In the 11th parliament, besides Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury serving as the Chief Whip, Iqbalur Rahim and Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon served as the whips.