13th Parliament Convenes Today; President’s Nominee to Preside Without Speaker

The first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) commenced today, Thursday (12 March), at 11:00 a.m., summoned by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. This marks the inaugural sitting since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024.

Under parliamentary rules, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected on the first day. The President will then administer their oaths. On the same day, the President will deliver his address to the House.

In a notable exception this time, the Speaker’s chair will remain vacant at the start of proceedings. The former Speaker of the 12th Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, resigned in September 2024 and has not appeared publicly since. The outgoing Deputy Speaker, Shamsul Haque Tuku, is currently in jail in a murder case.

According to the Rules of Procedure, the President may appoint a member of Parliament to preside over the opening session in such circumstances. After the presiding member’s introductory remarks, the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker will proceed, followed by their oath-taking by the President. A short break will occur, after which the newly elected Speaker will take the chair. Senior MPs are expected to welcome the new Speaker with speeches.

As per the Constitution, the President delivers an address at the first session of a new Parliament and the first session of each year. Following the adoption of condolence motions, the President’s speech will be placed before the House, with a motion of thanks to be moved. Discussions on the thanks motion will continue throughout the session.

Ordinances issued during the interim government period must be placed before Parliament in its first sitting, as required by the Constitution. If not approved within 30 days, those ordinances will lapse.

The July National Charter calls for a bicameral legislature, with the upper house formed proportionally based on votes in the lower house. Both sides would nominate one Deputy Speaker each from the opposition benches. While BNP has agreed in principle, differences remain over the formation method of the upper house. The party has already proposed the Deputy Speaker position be given to Jamaat-e-Islami.

A Jamaat source told Prothom Alo: “There is no precedent for the opposition getting the Deputy Speaker post. The July Charter introduced this provision for the first time. It was not discussed before the election. After the election, BNP says it is being offered as a gesture of generosity. BNP must clarify its position on implementing the July Charter. Only then will Jamaat state its position on the Deputy Speaker issue.”