UNIPA News l Dhaka l March 12,2026
The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began on Thursday morning, marking a significant step in the country’s new parliamentary term as newly elected members convened to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
According to parliamentary procedures, the session commenced at 11:05 a.m. and was presided over by senior lawmaker Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain following the unanimous consent of Members of Parliament (MPs).
During the opening proceedings, the House elected Hafiz Uddin Ahmad as Speaker through a voice vote, as no other candidate was nominated for the position. The nomination was placed by Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and seconded by Whip Rakibul Islam.
Hafiz, a seasoned politician and six-time Member of Parliament, has held several key positions in past governments. He previously served as Minister for Liberation War Affairs in the cabinet led by Tarique Rahman. A member of the National Standing Committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, he also served as Minister for Water Resources during the government of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in 2001.
Following the election of the Speaker, lawmakers moved to appoint the Deputy Speaker. Whip Ruhul Quddus Talukdar proposed the name of Barrister Kayser Kamal for the post, which was seconded by Whip ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan. With no competing nominations, Barrister Kayser was elected Deputy Speaker.
Kayser previously served as State Minister for Land in the cabinet led by Tarique Rahman and is regarded as a prominent legal and political figure within the BNP-led political camp.
Following the elections, the parliament session was adjourned for 30 minutes. During this recess, the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker were formally sworn into office by Mohammed Shahabuddin at his office in the Parliament Building.
The commencement of the 13th Parliament and the appointment of its presiding officers set the stage for legislative activities in the new parliamentary term. Analysts say the leadership of the Speaker’s office will play a crucial role in guiding parliamentary debates, maintaining order in the House, and facilitating the legislative agenda in the coming years.
