Dhaka, July 07: Ending a brief boycott, Bangladesh's main opposition Awami League today re-joined the Parliament where, the party said, it will press for discussion on issues of national importance.

Former premier Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League, which broke its long boycott on June 24 by joining Jatiya Sangsad (national Parliament) prior to the passage of the budget, stopped coming to the house from June 27 alleging that it was not allowed adequate time to expose the anti-people budget. The budget for fiscal 2002-2003, which became effective from July 1, was passed on June 29 in the absence of Awami League.
The sitting of the Parliament, which remained suspended following the passage of the budget, resumed this evening.
The current 3rd session of the 8th Parliament, which began on June 4, is likely to last till mid July and is expected to witness heated debate in the days ahead on the remarks of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia about the activities of Awami League. Awami League has joined the house though the party still sticks to its earlier demand for re-poll to replace the current Parliament which, Hasina alleges, was born out of rigged elections.
Awami League's organising secretary Mohammad Nasim told reporters on Friday that the opposition will press for discussion on issues of national importance.
Nasim also demanded explanation from Zia on her accusation that Awami League was hatching a conspiracy to dislodge here government. Bureau Report