Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her dissatisfaction to see the slow progress of repair works in the parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) building. She stressed on proper maintenance of JS building (Sangsad Bhaban).

During a meeting of the Parliament Commission on Sunday, she was also critical of the initiative to install new air-conditioners in the house. Hasina has been calling for measures to save power since assuming office for the second time.

The Parliament Commission’s meeting, chaired by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, was also attended by Opposition Leader Roushan Ershad.

The meeting discussed over the progress of the Tk 1.03 billion ‘Umbrella Project’ initiated during the ninth parliament.

After the meeting, the Speaker told reporters that the prime minister was updated on the project.

“The PM said ‘the project started during the ninth parliament and is yet to be finished. This is like the patient dying before the doctor arrived,” said Chaudhury.

While speaking to the media, the Speaker said that one of the two chillers of the central air-conditioning system is not working and the other one was only performing to 50 per cent of its capacity. She said a proposed project of Tk 220 million to repair the chillers has been cleared. The meeting also discussed the architectural plan of the Parliament House, according to the Speaker.

The meeting approved a budget of Tk 2.09 billion for the National Parliament in the coming 2014-15 fiscal. – Special Correspondent