United News of Bangladesh

The 13th National Parliament is likely to go into its maiden session on March 12 next month or one or two days earlier, said Home Minister and BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed. “The first session of the National Parliament will begin on March 12 next month or one or two days earlier,” he told journalists on Saturday night. The BNP leader said the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected during the session. “During this session, the ordinances promulgated during the tenure of the interim government will be placed before Parliament, and an obituary motion will also be presented,” he added. Earlier, on February 17, the newly elected members of the 13th Parliament--from both the treasury and opposition benches--were sworn in by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Later, the BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) unanimously elected party Chairman Tarique Rahman as the Leader of the House. Meanwhile, Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has been chosen as the Leader of the Opposition by opposition MPs. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12. Out of 300 seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, results for two seats have been suspended, while polling in one seat was cancelled following the death of a candidate. Of the remaining 297 seats, BNP secured 209, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami 68, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) six, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish two, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Gano Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Ganosamhati Andolon and Khelafat Majlish won one seat each. Independent candidates secured seven seats.  

The maiden session of the 12th Parliament will go into session on Tuesday at 3pm. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will address the first session. Earlier, he convened the first parliament session of 2024 exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 72 (1) of the Constitution. The President's speech has already been approved in the cabinet. The current parliament was formed through January 7 national election. Make the business of parliament meaningful: PM Hasina tells independent MPs Out of 299 seats, AL won 223, JP 11, Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), and Bangladesh Kalyan Party one each, and independent candidates 62 seats. 58 of the independent candidates were ruling party leaders. At the beginning of the sitting, the Speaker and deputy speaker of the House will be elected and they will be sworn in by the president. BNP relies on ‘other force’ to go to power: PM Hasina tells British parliamentary team Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Shamsul Haque Tuku will continue in their post as Speaker and Deputy Leader of the House as the AL parliamentary party in a meeting has already nominated them for this post. The president, who addresses the first parliamentary session of a new year, will give a speech on the first day of the session. The Business Advisory Committee of the new parliament will be formed with the new speaker as its head. Neither parliament nor current govt was formed with people’s mandate: Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan The committee will decide the tenure of the inaugural session and other businesses of parliament. The standing committees on different ministries are likely to be formed during this session.