Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman said the 13th parliament is not a routine institution but one shaped by the sacrifices of the July 2024 uprising.
Addressing the opening session of parliament on Thursday while thanking newly elected Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, he paid tribute to martyrs of the movements of 1947, 1952 and 1971, those killed at Shapla Chattar, and victims of what he described as the “fascist period”.
“This parliament is not a routine one; it stands on people’s blood and sacrifice,” he said, praying for the martyrs and wishing a speedy recovery for those injured and persecuted.
Shafiqur linked the current parliament to the “We Want Justice” slogan that defined the July Uprising, saying the opposition continues to uphold that demand.
He urged the Speaker to perform his duties impartially and said his decision to step down from party posts had already built confidence among lawmakers.
“That decision has created trust among members that both the government and opposition will receive equal treatment,” he said, expressing hope that neutrality would be maintained throughout the tenure of the house.
Reflecting on the country’s political history, he said that despite more than five decades of independence, effective parliamentary politics had existed only for limited periods and was often weakened by authoritarian tendencies.
The current parliament, he said, has an opportunity to change that pattern.
With many young lawmakers elected for the first time, Shafiqur said they could benefit from the experience of senior members who had served in previous parliaments.
He expressed hope that the house would become a “dynamic, vibrant and effective institution” capable of delivering justice and addressing the concerns of ordinary people.
He also urged lawmakers to keep debates focused on substantive public issues rather than “personal attacks or character assassination”.
Such conduct in the past, he said, had wasted parliamentary time and undermined the credibility of the institution.
“We want justice,” he said, expressing hope that parliament would play a central role in addressing political, economic and social injustices and fulfilling the aspirations of the July uprising.
Shafiqur also thanked voters in his constituency and across the country for electing their representatives, calling it a reflection of public trust in the democratic process.
He concluded by assuring the Speaker of his party’s full cooperation and wished him success in running the house effectively.
