Newly elected Speaker Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal paid homage to the nation’s martyrs by laying wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar on Friday morning.
They arrived at the memorial at 10:15am and stood in silence for a moment to honour the martyrs before signing the visitor’s book.
After the ceremony, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are scheduled to visit Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to pay their respects at the graves of the martyred president Ziaur Rahman and prime minister Khaleda Zia.
While speaking to reporters newly elected Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has pledged to conduct impartial “umpiring” in the National Parliament, just as an umpire oversees a cricket match.
“Through much sacrifice and patience, we have achieved a democratic parliament. I hope in the coming days we can fulfil the people’s aspirations. We will work together to build a prosperous Bangladesh,” the Speaker said.
When asked about the opposition’s walkout during the President’s speech, he said, “Walkouts are a customary practice in parliament. Still, they were largely disciplined.
However, shouting slogans in the house is not proper; it falls outside parliamentary norms.”
He emphasised, “In parliament, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will remain neutral. Just as a cricket umpire maintains impartiality, we too will ensure unbiased oversight.”
The parliamentary proceedings of the 13th National Parliament began on Thursday, 12 March, at 11am, following a summons from President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain for the chairmanship of the inaugural session.
Under Mosharraf Hossain’s chairmanship Hafiz Uddin Ahmad was elected for the Speaker post and Kayser Kamal was elected Deputy Speaker.
