For the first time in the country, a law is going to be passed regarding the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. Currently, the 'Leader of the Opposition' with the rank of a full minister is nominated according to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament. And the 'Deputy Leader of the Opposition' with the rank of a Minister of State is elected according to the 1979 Ordinance.
In light of the Supreme Court's verdict, the government has taken the initiative to enact a law to repeal the ordinance. There is a strong possibility that the bill, titled 'The Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (Remuneration and Privileges) Bill, 2021', will be introduced in the current budget session of the parliament. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haque told Ittefaq on Thursday, 'The Supreme Court has directed to enact a law to repeal the 1979 ordinance regarding the leader of the opposition and deputy leader. The court order has even said that the law should be made in Bengali. The law is being made in light of the court's verdict.' In response to a question, the law minister said that the bill could be introduced in the current session of the parliament.
The cabinet gave in-principle and final approval to the draft of the 'Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (Emoluments and Privileges) Bill, 2021' on May 31. After the cabinet meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam told a news briefing that there is a directive from the High Court to repeal the 1979 ordinance and convert it into a law. However, no significant changes have been made to the draft law. The draft clearly explains who the Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament will be; how they will be appointed.
Regarding the nomination of the Leader of the Opposition, Rule 2(1)(k) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament states, “‘Leader of the Opposition’ means the Member of Parliament who, in the opinion of the Speaker, is the leader of the party or faction, as the case may be, consisting of the largest number of members opposing the government party in Parliament.” However, the Rules of Procedure do not say anything about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The Leader of the Opposition or Deputy Leader (Emoluments and Privileges) Ordinance-1979 grants the Leader of the Opposition the status and privileges of a Minister and Deputy Leader of State. After the cabinet meeting on May 31, the Cabinet Secretary said that the explanation of who will be the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament; how they will be appointed has been clarified in the draft law to be prepared. However, the Law Minister told Ittefaq yesterday, 'As far as I know, the draft law talks about the salaries and allowances of the Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader, but there is nothing about their appointment or nomination process.'
