Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain Selected as Presiding Member for 13th Parliament's First Session

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has been appointed as the presiding member (সভাপতি) for the inaugural session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, which began today (Thursday, 12 March) at 11:00 a.m. The Speaker election is still pending, as per parliamentary procedures.

Under Article 73(3) of the Constitution, in the absence of both Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the President appoints a member to preside over the opening proceedings until the election is completed. With the former Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury having resigned and the Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku in jail on a murder charge, the chair remained vacant at the start.

The session, summoned by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, marks the first sitting since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024. Once the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected, President Shahabuddin will administer their oaths, followed by his address to the House.

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman is attending the session for the first time as an MP. Discussions on ordinances issued during the interim period and motions of thanks on the President’s speech are also on the agenda.

The BNP-led alliance holds 209 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami occupies the opposition bench with 68 seats.