His Majesty The King graced the opening of the 9th session of the second parliament, this morning.
His Majesty was received in a traditional Chipdrel ceremony at the Gyalyong Tshogkhang by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and the Members of Parliament.
The National Assembly Speaker, Jigme Zangpo, on behalf of the parliamentarians, expressed gratitude to His Majesty for gracing the ceremony and for His Majesty’s unwavering and continuous support.
The parliament will deliberate on adoption of Annual National Budget for 2017-2018, Third Pay Commission, Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill 2017, Bhutan Information, Communication and Media Bill 2016, Marriage Bill and Report of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
“The National Assembly had received several petitions from three Dzongkhags to be deliberated in the 9th Session. These petitions have been extensively deliberated in the Preliminary Meeting on April 21 and forwarded to the relevant ministries for appropriate actions without further delay,” said the Speaker, Jigme Zangpo.
The Speaker also shared to the gathering that Bhutan will host a three day Asian Parliamentary Assembly at the end of August this year.
The joint sitting tomorrow will see discussions on the five disputed clauses of the Customs Bill and 15 disputed clauses on the Motor Vehicle Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger, Personnel and Cargo Vehicular Traffic between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal or BBIN agreement.
The opening session today was also graced by Their Royal Highnesses the Princesses. The session will end on June 20.
