The thirteenth National Parliament of Bangladesh is set to convene its inaugural session tomorrow, 12 March, at 11:00 AM in the Parliament Chamber of the National Parliament House. President Md. Sahabuddin has officially summoned the session in accordance with the constitutional mandate, which requires the new parliament to assemble within 30 days of the formal announcement of general election results.
Despite the formal schedule, uncertainty persists over the leadership for the opening of the session, as the names of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have not yet been confirmed. The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is expected to finalise these appointments during its parliamentary party meeting today.
Probable Candidates for Key Posts
According to party sources, in line with international parliamentary practice, the majority party typically nominates candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Discussions are ongoing regarding the Deputy Speaker, with a proposal extended to a member of Jamaat-e-Islami, though a final decision is yet to be made.
| Position | Probable Candidate | Party | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker | Hafiz Uddin Ahmed | BNP | Member of Standing Committee; front-runner |
| Abdul Moin Khan | BNP | Member of Standing Committee | |
| Osman Faruk | BNP | Former Minister of Education | |
| Chair for Inaugural Session | Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain | BNP | Likely to act as President’s representative |
| Proposed Deputy Speaker | Member from Jamaat-e-Islami | Jamaat-e-Islami | Proposed by BNP; decision pending |
Agenda of the First Session
The inaugural session of a newly elected parliament generally follows a formalised agenda:
Inaugural Chair Address: Traditionally presided over by the outgoing Speaker or Deputy Speaker. The previous Speaker, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, resigned in September 2024, and the former Deputy Speaker, Shamsul Haque (Tuku), is currently incarcerated. The presiding chair for tomorrow’s session will be finalised in today’s meeting.
Election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker: Following the opening address, parliamentarians will elect both posts. The President will administer the oath of office to the elected officials.
Presidential Address and Motion of Thanks: The President will address the new parliament, after which a motion of thanks will be debated and adopted.
Approval of Ordinances: Ordinances enacted during the interim government period will be tabled for parliamentary approval. Per constitutional law, any ordinance not ratified within 30 days loses legal validity.
Political Context
Following the collapse of the caretaker government on 5 August 2024, the thirteenth parliamentary elections were held on 12 February 2026 under an interim administration. The BNP secured a two-thirds majority and formed the new government. BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir confirmed that today’s party meeting will finalise decisions on the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and the presiding chair for the inaugural session.
Parties are emphasising both political acceptability and experience in filling these key constitutional positions to ensure stability in parliamentary leadership. The opening session tomorrow will mark a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s legislative history, signalling the start of a new chapter in governance and parliamentary proceedings.