13th Parliament’s First Session Begins Today with Quran Recitation, Watch Live

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

As per Article 73(3) of the Constitution, in the absence of both Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Parliament will elect a Speaker and Deputy Speaker on the very first day. The Speaker’s chair remained 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.

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According to parliamentary rules, a member of Parliament appointed by the President will preside over the opening session. After the presiding member’s introductory remarks, the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker will proceed, followed by their oath-taking administered 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.

The President will deliver his address to the House on the same day. Following condolence motions, the 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.

On Wednesday (11 March) afternoon, after a meeting of the ruling BNP’s parliamentary party, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed spoke to journalists. He said: “Several historic decisions could be taken in the first session of Parliament.”

He further informed that after today’s session, Parliament will reconvene on 15 March, after which there may be a break. “The proceedings of Parliament will be guided by public expectations, the aspirations of the martyrs, and the consensus reached in the July Charter,” he added.

The Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban has been newly renovated ahead of the session. On 5 August 2024, protesters breached barricades and entered the parliament complex, causing extensive damage to the main building, MPs’ residences (Manik Mia and Nakhalpara), old MP hostel, ministers’ hostel, secretariat hostel, and residential areas. The damage was repaired jointly by the Public Works Department and the Parliament Secretariat at a cost of nearly Tk 100 crore.

The Election Commission published the gazette results of 297 out of 299 seats in the 13th general election held on 12 February. The BNP secured 209 seats, achieving an overwhelming majority. Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats and is set to occupy the opposition bench. Other parties and independents claimed the remaining seats.

Newly elected MPs took their oaths on 17 February. In the subsequent BNP-led alliance parliamentary party meeting, Tarique Rahman was elected Leader of the House and Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizens’ Party (NCP) alliance elected Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman as Leader of the Opposition and NCP Convener Nahid Islam as Opposition Chief Whip in their parliamentary party meeting.