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1. Excise duty on petrol and diesel

The Member from Bartsam-Shongphu asked the Minister for Economic Affairs to clarify whether the full excise duty exemption on petrol and diesel by the Government of India was passed on to the consumers.

National Assembly passes the motion to stop the Corporatization of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH)

The Member from Panbang constituency moved the motion to stop corporatization of JDWNRH by the government with immediate effect giving due respect to the rights of the people of Bhutan as enshrined in the Constitution of Bhutan to provide free basic health services. 

Finance Minister Reports on the Formulation of Stabilization Fund Rules and Regulations

As a follow up of the resolutions of the 9^th Session of the Second Parliament, the Finance Minister submitted a report on the formulation of Rules and Regulations of the Stabilization Fund. 

1. The Member from Wamrong Constituency asked the Minister for Works and Human Settlement if the works of double-laning of the East-West Highway can be completed within eight remaining months of the term of  the current government. Similarly, the Member from Nubi-Tangsibji Constituency asked the Minister for Works and Human Settlement as to why the progress of the widening works of the East-West Highway especially, between Tsheringma Drupchu (Tangjsibji Gewog)…....

The  38 National Assembly members present and voting  unanimously passed the Agreement between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income today.

Question on  Kholongchhu Hydroelectric Project

The Opposition Leader asked the Prime Minister that, although the government had earlier informed the Parliament the Kholongchhu Hydroelectric Project had been started, it was recently revealed that even the concession agreement has not been finalized yet and as such no major construction works have been awarded so far. This indicated that the government has not been able to start even a single mega hydropower…....

The Hon’ble Speaker warmly welcomed Morocco’s Ambassador Mohamed Maliki to Bhutan and congratulated the Ambassador on taking up this esteemed post. The Speaker expressed that the two countries shared similar history of visionary monarchs and constitutional democracy among others.

Three Bills - the Audit Bill 2017 (Private Member’s Bill), the Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic  Substances and Substance Abuse (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2017 (Urgent Bill) and the Tourism Levy Exemption Bill of Bhutan 2017 (Money Bill) were tabled today for First and Second Readings.

H.E. Mr. Gilad Cohen, Deputy Director General for Asia & Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and delegation called on to the Hon’ble Speaker today.

Today, the Opening Ceremony of the 10th Session of the Second Parliament was kindly graced by His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo and received in a traditional Chipdrel ceremony.    The Ceremony was also graced by Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen, Members of the Royal Family, Foreign Dignitaries, Senior Government officials, students and public.

Hon’ble Speaker, Members and Staff of the National Assembly visited Dechenphug Lhakhang and Tashichhodzong Dukhang this morning to offer prayers and seek blessing of guardian deities for the upcoming 10th Session of the Second Parliament scheduled from 15 November to 8 December, 2017.

On the request of the Economic & Private Sector Development Committee (EPSDC), the Department of Revenue & Customs under the Ministry of Finance made a presentation on Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the Members of National Assembly. 

National Assembly Secretariat organized an Interactive session between National Assembly Committees and registered Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on 3rd November, 2017. The first ever such session was attended by around 31 participants from various CSOs. 

On the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, Tshogpon Jigme Zangpo, Hon’ble Speaker of the National Assembly, led a parliamentary delegation comprising of members from both the National Assembly and the National Council on an official visit to the European Parliament in Brussels from 17 to 19 October 2017.

His Excellency Peter Taksoe-Jensen, Denmark’s Ambassador to Bhutan, called on to the Hon Speaker on 24th October, 2017. The Speaker warmly welcome the Ambassador and expressed his deep appreciation to the Government and People of Denmark for their developmental assistance and especially to the Parliament in the past.