Dhaka, Feb 23 (.) Bangladesh President Md Shahabuddin has summoned the first session of the 13th Parliamentary session on March 12. Convening the session as per Article 72(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the session will be held in the parliament chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka, according to a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat on Monday, reports Business Standard BD.
Earlier on Sunday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters after a meeting with PM Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat that the first meeting will be scheduled at the aforementioned date, following the election of a speaker and deputy speaker of the Parliament.
He remarked that as per constitutional procedure, a summary of the session schedule is sent from the Parliament Secretariat to the President’s Office through the Prime Minister’s Office, after which the president formally summons the inaugural session on the premier’s advice.
The first session will reportedly be placing several new ordinances put into effect during the interim govt’s tenure, as well as changes to existing laws which have long been mulled over but never brought into action, alongside a condolence motion and the customary presidential address.
As per the Bangladesh Constitution, the country’s President must summon the inaugural session of a newly elected Parliament within 30 days of gazetting the election results, based on written advice from the prime minister.
As the results for the February 12 twin polls were gazetted on February 13, under the country’s laws, it is mandatory that a parliamentary session be held before March 14.
Though already operating in his capacity as premier, and appointed as parliamentary leader, the newly-elected PM Rahman’s govt lacks several key parliamentary posts as of yet, including speaker, deputy leader and chief whip, are yet to be finalised.
Jamaat e Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman has been appointed leader of the opposition, Syed Abdullah Md Taher as deputy leader, and NCP convenor Nahid Islam placed as chief whip. In line with the newly formulated July National Charter, the parliament’s deputy speaker will also be from the opposition lines.
. . SSI