The first session of the much-discussed 13th Parliament will sit at 11am on Thursday, amid signs the opposition may trigger tensions on the opening day over the July Charter and the president’s address.
Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP) say the opposition’s conduct in parliament will largely depend on how the ruling BNP proceeds with implementing the July Charter and broader state reforms.
Sources at the parliament secretariat and political circles said a new speaker and deputy speaker will be elected on the first day of the session.
As the speaker of the 12th Parliament has resigned and the deputy speaker remains in jail, BNP senior MP and standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain may preside over the first sitting.
After the election of the speaker and deputy speaker, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer their oath. Parliamentary proceedings will then begin with the president’s inaugural address.
However, the opposition may object to the address delivered by a president elected during the Awami League government. In that case, a walkout during the speech cannot be ruled out.
The central point of tension in the new parliament is the “July Charter” and the “Constitution Reform Council”.
The charter emerged from the July movement and mass uprising, and the new political arrangement and election were held based on it.
While MPs from opposition parties Jamaat and NCP took a separate oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council, BNP members took oath only as members of parliament.
BNP leaders argue the issue falls outside the constitutional framework and say they want the matter resolved through amendments in parliament.
The opposition alliance, however, sees it as a test of the government’s commitment to reform.
Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher told TIMES of Bangladesh that if BNP moves ahead with reforms in line with the July Charter promised to the public, the opposition will extend full cooperation.
Otherwise, he warned, strong protests could be launched both inside parliament and on the streets.
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said the government’s position will become clear on the very first day through the ruling party’s statements in parliament.
He said invoking the constitution while failing to implement the July Charter could raise questions about the legitimacy of the election itself.
The opposition may also question the appointment of interim government adviser Khalilur Rahman as foreign minister.
Meanwhile, ahead of the parliament session, the BNP parliamentary party will meet on Wednesday under the chairmanship of BNP Chairman and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman.
The meeting will finalise party nominations for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker and discuss parliamentary procedures and discipline.
The ruling party has already asked the opposition to propose a candidate for the post of deputy speaker.
Jamaat, however, said it may reject the proposal if the government fails to demonstrate visible progress in implementing the July Charter.
Despite the political tensions, there have been some positive discussions between both sides on making parliament effective.
A meeting has already taken place between ruling party Chief Whip Nurul Islam and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam.
Jamaat MP Rafiqul Islam Khan and NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah were also present.
At the meeting, both sides stressed the need to establish a “consensus government” and make parliament vibrant in the national interest.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is committed to ensuring effective participation of the opposition in all parliamentary activities.
The new parliament also faces another major challenge.
A total of 133 ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government must be converted into law within the first 30 working days of the new parliament.
Otherwise, the ordinances will automatically lapse.
Political observers are now watching closely to see how far expectations of implementing the July Charter and building a “new Bangladesh” are reflected in the functioning of the new parliament.
