Kathmandu, March 29:

The first meeting of the fifth session of the parliament convened at the International Convention Centre today, 69 days after the fourth session was prorogued.

The meeting unanimously passed two condolence proposals on the demise of Nepali Congress lawmaker Bodh Narayan Sardar and former member of parliament and Law Minister Maheshwor Prasad Singh. Nepali Congress’ sitting Constituent Assembly member Sardar was killed in a motorcycle mishap on March 13.

Though the CA members of most of the political parties, including UCPN-Maoist, CPN-UML and NC, sought time to speak, Speaker Subas Nembang did not proceed to other business. According to tradition, no parliamentary business starts on the day a condolence proposal is passed.

The work management consultation committee of the parliament earlier decided that the House would meet at 3 pm on all scheduled days.

“The CA committees will do their bit till 3 pm at Singha Durbar before the House meet,” NC chief whip Laxman Prasad Ghimire said.

The next meeting of the House will convene on Thursday.