The Thirteenth National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) is scheduled to convene at 11 am today, following a long political struggle to establish citizens' voting rights and uphold Bangladesh's democratic aspirations. The session comes amid heightened political tensions, particularly over the July Charter and the Constitutional Reform Council.
For the first time since 2001, the parliament will see a strong opposition presence, with 77 members from the Jamaat-NCP alliance alongside several other MPs. This opposition bloc is expected to raise matters of national importance, and the session could see frequent Points of Order, Special Rights, and walkouts-practices often described as parliamentary "beauty."
Extensive preparations have been completed at the Parliament Building, including cleaning, repairs, sound system testing, and infrastructural upgrades to ensure protocol, security, and smooth functioning.
In the absence of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the inaugural meeting will be presided over by a senior MP to elect a new Speaker. The Speaker will then oversee the election of the Deputy Speaker and nomination of the five-member Panel of Chairmen.
The ruling BNP is reportedly considering standing committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan and Hafiz Uddin Ahmad for the post of Speaker. Meanwhile, the President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, will appoint the Chief Whip and five Whips before the session begins.
Nahid Islam of the NCP has been nominated as Opposition Chief Whip, while Zainul Abedin Faruk is being considered for Chief Whip of the ruling side.
Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman confirmed that all 133 ordinances promulgated during the interim government's tenure will be placed in parliament on the first day. However, the government will only table ordinances deemed constitutionally sound and necessary.
The new parliament faces a unique challenge: 219 of the 300 MPs, including Prime Minister and BNP Party Chairman Tarique Rahman, are first-time legislators. Compounding this, about 80 per cent of parliamentary secretariat officials are also new, unfamiliar with procedural rules.
To address this, the ruling party and opposition have conducted training sessions for their MPs on parliamentary procedures, bill drafting, budgets, standing committee functions, and responsibilities.
Tensions between the ruling BNP and the Jamaat-NCP alliance have intensified over constitutional reforms.
The positional conflict began around the oath-taking ceremony on February 17, when BNP MPs took their parliamentary oaths but did not join the Constitutional Reform Council, citing constitutional ambiguities and the absence of a defined oath format.
The July Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order-2025 and the Referendum Ordinance-2025, under which a February 12 referendum endorsed certain constitutional amendments, are currently under legal scrutiny.
The High Court has issued a rule seeking explanations on the legality of the Charter, the Referendum Ordinance, and the oath of MPs as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.
Seating arrangements in the new parliament are still being finalized. Front-row seats are traditionally given to senior party leaders, but several opposition leaders, including NCP chief Nahid Islam and BJP chief Andaleeve Rahman Partho, are reportedly placed in the second row.
The Treasury Bench will accommodate new ministers and multiple-term MPs in the front and middle rows, while first-time MPs will occupy back-row seats.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will sit alongside key party figures, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Salahuddin Ahmed, and other senior MPs. On the Opposition Bench, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will lead, followed by his deputy, Dr. Abdullah Mohammad Taher, and other party and NCP leaders. Discussions continue regarding the placement of independent MPs.
As the first session opens, parliamentarians will witness the election of leadership positions, discussion of ordinances, and potentially heated debates on the July Charter and constitutional reforms, setting the stage for a politically charged term in Bangladesh's democracy.
