The 13th Parliament of Bangladesh Begins Its Five-Year Term
Bangladesh’s 13th Parliament is set to begin its five-year term with its first session on Thursday morning. This marks the start of a new political era following the general election held on February 12. However, this session will be different from previous ones, as the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker are currently vacant.
The absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker means that the first session will begin without a chairperson. Instead, the Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will deliver a welcome speech and nominate a senior member of parliament to temporarily preside over the session. This nominee will then be seconded by another MP before taking charge of the proceedings.
Once the temporary chairperson is in place, the session will proceed with the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. These elections will be conducted by the Members of Parliament. After their election, the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker will take their oaths, which will be administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Following this, the session will resume with the newly elected officials in the chair.
One of the key agenda items for the first day of the session is the placement of a condolence motion. This motion will express profound grief at the death of Khaleda Zia, a three-time prime minister and chairperson of the BNP, along with other former MPs and notable personalities. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will also deliver his speech during the session.
Procedural Details and Traffic Restrictions
In preparation for the session, a meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party was held at the Sangsad Bhaban, chaired by Tarique Rahman, a day before the maiden session. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed confirmed that the Prime Minister will nominate a senior BNP lawmaker to temporarily preside over the House.
He outlined the tentative procedure for the first day of the session, stating that after the temporary chairperson is announced, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected. Once elected, they will take their oaths, followed by the announcement of the panel of chairmen for the first session of Parliament. A condolence motion will then be placed and discussed.
The Law Minister will also present 133 ordinances seeking parliamentary endorsement. Additionally, several parliamentary committees, including the business advisory committee, will be elected. The President is expected to deliver his speech in the House, and the first meeting of the business advisory committee is likely to be held the following day.
The session is expected to be adjourned after another sitting on March 15. Normally, the first session of a new parliament begins with the Speaker of the previous parliament in charge, but this session will follow a different protocol due to the current vacancy.
Cultural and Political Significance
As part of the session, the first Kalema in Arabic calligraphy has been inscribed in the Parliament’s session hall, symbolizing the cultural and religious significance of the proceedings. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni emphasized the ruling party’s goal of making the 13th Parliament effective and vibrant, fostering an environment of constructive discussion and healthy debate on national issues.
Moni stated that a member nominated by the Prime Minister will temporarily preside over the House. He also mentioned that the BNP Parliamentary Party authorized the Leader of the House to decide on the candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. The decision will be made and announced the following day.
The session will begin with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the proposal of a senior MP to preside over the sitting. The proceedings will then continue with the nomination and seconding of the temporary chairperson.
Legislative and Administrative Context
On February 23, President Mohammed Shahabuddin summoned the first session of the new parliament under the powers conferred by Article 72(1) of the Constitution. This session marks both the inaugural sitting of the 13th Parliament and the first parliamentary session of 2026.
The parliamentary elections were held on February 12, with the BNP securing a two-thirds majority. The 13th parliamentary election took place in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies, with the election in Sherpur-3 constituency postponed due to the death of a candidate.
The Election Commission of Bangladesh published the gazette notification on February 13, declaring results for 297 seats. In these constituencies, BNP won 209 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68, NCP settled victory in six, independent candidates in seven, and various other parties in the remaining seats.
Newly elected MPs were sworn in on February 17, with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administering the oath. Tarique Rahman, who was elected from two constituencies, took his oath as MP from Dhaka-17, leaving Bogura-6 for a by-election.
According to Article 72(1) of the Constitution, Parliament must be summoned within 30 days of the declaration of the results of any general election. The five-year tenure of the 13th Parliament will officially commence with its first sitting on March 12.