Bhola-3 lawmaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed was sworn in as the Speaker of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, while Barrister (Brrs.) Kayser Kamal, MP from Netrokona-1, took oath as the Deputy Speaker on Thursday (March 12).
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to both at a ceremony held on the day.
The maiden session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad began at 11:05 am with the recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome address by Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Before assuming the role of Speaker, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed served as the Minister for Liberation War Affairs. He resigned from the ministerial post on March 11, confirmed Md Akbar Hossain, assistant private secretary to the minister.
A retired major of the Bangladesh Army, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed joined the BNP Standing Committee in 2024.
With the appointment of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the parliamentary proceedings are expected to continue under the leadership of the newly elected presiding officers.
Meanwhile, Kayser Kamal had been serving as the state minister for the Ministry of Land but resigned prior to his appointment as the deputy speaker.
He was elected from the Netrokona-1 constituency (Kalamkanda-Durgapur) in the 13th national parliamentary election as a candidate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
During his welcome speech TariqueRahman said he represents the people of the country regardless of party affiliation, stressing that the BNP's goal is to make every family self-reliant.
Empowering families economically and socially remains a key objective of BNP, he added.
The prime minister also said he represents the people of the country regardless of party affiliation, stressing that the goal of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is to make every family self-reliant.
Unlike in the past, however, the first session of the new parliament began with the chair of speaker vacant.
BNP Standing Committee member KhandakerMosharrafHossain was nominated to temporarily chair the House before the election of the speaker and the deputy speaker by Members of Parliament
In the first-day sitting, a condolence motion will be placed expressing profound grief at the death of three-time prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, former MPs and other noted personalities.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin will also deliver his speech in the House Thursday (12 March).
