13th Parliament Begins Journey with Maiden Session Today

New parliament to start first session on Thursday. File Photo.

The 13th Parliament of Bangladesh is set to begin its five-year term with the maiden session scheduled to start on Thursday morning, a month after the general election held on February 12.

The opening sitting will take place with the Speaker’s chair initially vacant, as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are yet to be elected. At the beginning of the session, Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will deliver a welcome address and propose the name of a senior lawmaker to temporarily preside over the House.

Members of Parliament will then elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. After their election, the House is expected to adjourn briefly before the newly elected office bearers take oath, to be administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

Following the oath-taking ceremony, the session will resume with the Speaker or Deputy Speaker presiding over the House.

During the first day’s proceedings, a condolence motion will be placed to express grief over the deaths of several prominent figures, including former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with former lawmakers and other notable personalities.

The President is also scheduled to deliver his address to Parliament during the session.

Ahead of the opening sitting, the parliamentary party of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party held a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, chaired by Tarique Rahman. After the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the Prime Minister would nominate a senior BNP lawmaker to chair the session temporarily until the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

He said that once the House reconvenes after the oath-taking, the panel of chairmen for the session will be announced, followed by the condolence motion and discussion.

The Law Minister is also expected to place 133 ordinances before the House for parliamentary approval, while several parliamentary committees, including the Business Advisory Committee, will be formed.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said the ruling party hopes to make the new parliament effective and vibrant through constructive debate and discussion on national issues.

“The goal is to ensure a responsible parliament where national problems can be addressed through rational debate and meaningful dialogue,” he said.

The President summoned the first session of the new parliament on February 23 under Article 72(1) of the Constitution. The general election was held on February 12, with the BNP securing a two-thirds majority.

According to the Constitution, Parliament must meet within 30 days of the announcement of election results, and its five-year tenure officially begins from the date of the first sitting.