The first session of the 13th parliament is expected to commence in the second week of next month, Home Minister and BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said.
Sources indicate that proceedings are likely to begin between 10 and 12 March.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday night, Salahuddin said the inaugural sitting of the new parliament would begin with the election of a speaker and deputy speaker. President Mohammed Shahabuddin is then expected to address the parliament.
He also noted that a number of urgent ordinances issued in the public interest during the past year and a half under the interim government would be placed before parliament as part of the formal legislative process. In line with parliamentary tradition, a condolence motion will also be tabled.
He described the session, to be attended by newly elected members of parliament, as an important milestone in the country’s democratic journey.
Under the constitution, the president must summon the first session of a new parliament within 30 days of the publication of the election gazette. Acting on the advice of the prime minister, the president convenes the session. In this case, following the swearing-in of members, the first sitting must be held by 14 March.
Preparations and cabinet directives
While the parliament secretariat is moving swiftly with overall preparations and necessary renovations to welcome the new MPs, officials stated they are yet to receive final instructions regarding the exact date of the session.
On 18 February, a day after taking his oath, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired a cabinet meeting at the secretariat.
Following the meeting, the prime minister held discussions with secretaries of various ministries, officials of the parliament secretariat, and advisers holding the rank of ministers.
The discussions focused on a 180-day programme, including maintaining law and order, controlling the prices of essential commodities, and eradicating corruption.
Sources added that while the scheduling of the first session and the president’s speech were discussed, a final date was not fixed during the meeting.
Under constitutional provisions, the president’s speech must be approved by the cabinet before it is delivered at the inaugural session.
MPs will then participate in a discussion on the speech throughout the session. The president’s address is expected to be finalised by the end of this month, and the first day’s proceedings will be adjourned following its delivery.
Election results and leadership
The general election for the 13th National Parliament was held on 12 February for 299 of the 300 seats. Results have been announced for 297 seats, with BNP securing 209 seats and its allies winning three. BNP candidates are also leading in the two seats where results remain pending.
Among other parties, Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats. Their 11-party alliance partners, the National Civic Party (NCP), won six seats, while Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and Khelafat Majlish secured two seats and one seat respectively. Independent candidates won seven seats.
The election commission published the gazette for 297 winners on 13 February, and the MPs were sworn in on 17 February.
The BNP parliamentary party has elected Tarique Rahman as leader of the house, though the party is yet to determine the candidates for speaker, deputy leader, and chief whip.
Conversely, the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has elected Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman as leader of the opposition, with Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Md Taher as deputy leader and NCP Convener Md Nahid Islam as the opposition chief whip.
In line with the July National Charter and the BNP’s election manifesto, the deputy speaker is expected to be chosen from the opposition.
The 13th Parliament does not face the usual wait for a predecessor’s term to expire. For instance, following the 12th National Parliament election on 7 January 2024, the first session was not held until 30 January because the 11th Parliament’s term only ended on 29 January.
Due to the absence of a speaker or deputy speaker – following the resignation of Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in September 2024 and the arrest of Shamsul Huq Tuku in August 2024 after the July mass uprising – Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath to the new MPs.
Secretariat officials remain unclear as to who will preside over the start of the first session.
