United News of Bangladesh

Authorities have issued instructions regarding entry and parking arrangements for invited guests attending the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad at the parliament complex on Thursday. According to a press release, three gates of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban will remain open for invited guests: Manipuripara Gate (Gate-6), Bakultala Gate (Gate-12) and Asad Gate (Gate-1). Guests have been requested to avoid using the Manipuripara Gate as heavy traffic is expected there and instead enter the parliament complex through Bakultala Gate and Asad Gate to help reduce congestion and ensure smooth access. 13th Parliament set to commence with first session Thursday The release also asked guests to park their vehicles at designated locations according to the parking stickers sent with their invitation cards. The stickers include Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Shapla, Bakul, Shiuli and Shimul. Vehicles bearing Padma, Meghna, Jamuna and Shapla stickers will be allowed to park at different locations inside the parliament premises, while those with Bakul, Shimul and Shiuli stickers will be parked at the old Dhaka International Trade Fair ground. Vehicles of electronic and print media organisations will have to park in a single line along the main road of Manik Mia Avenue. All invited guests have been requested to get down from their vehicles at Tunnel Road and then enter the parliament complex. They have also been asked to minimise the time spent getting down from vehicles and ensure that drivers or accompanying persons remain inside the vehicles. Guests and all concerned have been requested to follow the instructions of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s traffic division at the entry gates and designated parking areas.

The 13th Parliament is set to start its five-year journey with its first session on Thursday morning, just one month on from the February 12 general election. Unlike in the past however, the first session of the new parliament is going to begin with the Chair of Speaker vacant as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are currently unavailable. At the outset of the session, Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will deliver a welcome speech and nominate the name of a senior member of parliament to temporarily chair the House before election to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker by Members of Parliament. BNP wants effective, vibrant parliament: Chief Whip Following their elections, the session is likely to be adjourned for some time and the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker will take oath. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath. Then the session will resume with the newly elected Speaker or Deputy Speaker in the chair. In the first-day sitting of the session, 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 on Thursday. A meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party chaired by Tarique Rahman was held at the ruling party’s meeting room at Sangsad Bhaban, a day before the maiden session of the 13th parliament. BNP MPs to attend parliamentary party meeting Wednesday Following the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters that the prime minister will nominate a senior BNP lawmaker to temporarily preside over the House as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are currently unavailable. “Since the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are not available, the leader of the House will announce who will preside over the House. Then the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker will be elected,” he said, outlining the tentative procedure of the first day business of the maiden session. After their election, the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker will take oath. “The President (Mohammed Shahabuddin) will administer the oath to them as per the rules of procedure of Parliament, " he said. Salahuddin said then the House will sit again and the panel of chairmen for the first session of Parliament will be announced. Then a condolence motion will be placed and discussion on the motion will be held, he added. The Law Minister will place 133 ordinances (seeking endorsement of parliament) and several parliamentary committees such as the business advisory committee of parliament will be elected, he said. “Then the President will deliver the speech in the House,” said Salahuddin Ahmed. The first meeting of the business advisory committee is likely to be held the following day and the session is most likely to be adjourned after another sitting on March 15, he said. Usually the first session of a new parliament begins with the Speaker of the previous parliament in chair and then the election of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker is held. Meanwhile, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Wednesday said the ruling party wants the 13th parliament to be effective and vibrant where problems will be resolved through discussion and debate. “Our goal is to run an effective, vibrant and responsible parliament. We want an environment of constructive discussion, rational argument and healthy debate on national issues in parliament,” he said at a press briefing after a meeting of BNP’s parliamentary party. He said a member nominated by the Prime Minister will temporarily preside over the House. The Chief Whip said the BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) on Wednesday authorised the Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman to decide the candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 13th Parliament. “We have entrusted the Leader of the House with the responsibility of deciding the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. He will take the decision, and we will know it tomorrow,” he said. He said the proceedings of Thursday’s sitting will begin with the Speaker’s chair vacant. The session will start with recitation from the Holy Quran, he added. After that, the Leader of the House will propose the name of a senior MP to preside over the sitting temporarily, which will be seconded by another MP. The nominated member will then preside over the session, said the Chief Whip. Nurul Islam also said 133 ordinances promulgated during the tenure of the interim government will be placed before parliament on Thursday. Replying to a question, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister showed “great generosity” by offering the post of Deputy Speaker to the opposition. “But we have not received any positive response from them so far. If we do, necessary steps will be taken accordingly,” he said. On February 23 last, President Mohammed Shahabuddin summoned the first session of the new parliament under the powers conferred by Article 72(1) of the Constitution. This session will mark both the inaugural sitting of the 13th Parliament and the first parliamentary session of 2026. The parliamentary elections were held on February 12 last, with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) winning it with two-thirds majority. The 13th parliamentary election was held in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies on February 12 as the election to Sherpur-3 constituency was postponed following the death of a candidate. The Election Commission of Bangladesh published the gazette notification on February 13, declaring results for 297 seats. In the 297 constituencies, BNP won in 209 parliamentary seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami in 68, NCP settled victory in six constituencies, independent candidates in seven constituencies, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish in two, Islami Andolan Bangladesh in one, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho) in one, Ganaodhikar Parishad in one, Ganasamhati Andolan in one and Khelafat Majlish in one parliamentary seat. Later, the newly elected MPs were sworn in on February 17 and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath. BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, who was elected from two constituencies, took oath as MP from Dhaka-17 constituency, leaving Bogura-6 constituency for by-election. According to Article 72(1) of the Constitution, Parliament must be summoned to meet within 30 days after the declaration of the results of polling at any general election. The same article also states that unless sooner dissolved by the President, Parliament shall stand dissolved on the expiration of five years from the date of its first meeting. So, the five-year tenure of the 13th Parliament will officially commence with its first sitting on March 12.

The BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) on Wednesday authorised Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman to decide the candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. “We have entrusted the Leader of the House with the responsibility of deciding the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. He will take the decision, and we will know it tomorrow,” said Chief Whip Nurul Islam. He came up with the remarks while speaking to reporters at the LD Hall after a meeting of BNP’s parliamentary party in the ruling party’s parliamentary party room on the ninth floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, with Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman in the chair. The first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will begin at 11am on Thursday, when the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are scheduled to be elected. Nurul Islam said the proceedings of Thursday’s sitting will begin with the Speaker’s chair vacant. The session will start with recitation from the Holy Quran. After that, the Leader of the House will propose the name of a senior MP to preside over the sitting temporarily, which will be seconded by another MP. The nominated member will then preside over the session. BPP meets to finalise Speaker, Deputy Speaker candidates Nurul Islam also said 133 ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government will be placed before parliament on Thursday. A special committee will be formed at the sitting to examine the ordinances, he said, adding that the committee will include members from both the treasury bench and the opposition. Replying to a question, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister showed “great generosity” by offering the post of Deputy Speaker to the opposition. “But we have not received any positive response from them so far. If we do, necessary steps will be taken accordingly,” he said. The Chief Whip said they want the 13th parliament to be effective and vibrant where problems will be resolved through discussion and debate.

A parliamentary party meeting of the ruling party in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will be held on Wednesday at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11am on March 11 at the government party’s meeting room inside the parliament building with the Leader of the House in the chair. Chief Whip Nurul Islam has requested all BNP Members of Parliament to attend the meeting. BNP begins two-day workshop for MPs ahead of 13th parliament session BNP secured a sweeping victory in the 13th national parliamentary election, as voters exercised their long-denied franchise in a festive and peaceful atmosphere on February 12.

An orientation meeting was held on Wednesday to brief the Chief Whip and Whips of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on the activities and functions of the National Parliament and the Parliament Secretariat. The special meeting took place at the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat in Dhaka, where senior officials apprised the parliamentary leadership of procedural, administrative and coordination matters relating to the House and its committees. 13th Parliament to begin first session on March 12 Chief Whip of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, Md Nurul Islam, MP (Barguna-2), attended the meeting along with six Whips. They are Alhaj Md GK Gaus, MP (Habiganj-3); Rakibul Islam, MP (Khulna-3); Miah Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, MP (Shariatpur-3); M Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, MP (Natore-2); Md Akhteruzzaman Mia, MP (Dinajpur-4); and ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nizan), MP (Lakshmipur-4). Officials concerned from the Parliament Secretariat were also present. During the session, the Whips were briefed on parliamentary procedures, legislative business management, question-answer sessions, committee activities and coordination between the Treasury and Opposition benches. New parliament may go into session by March 12: Salahuddin The role of the Whips in maintaining party discipline, ensuring members’ attendance and facilitating the smooth conduct of House proceedings was also discussed. The meeting is part of ongoing efforts to ensure effective functioning of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad following its formation.

Approximately Tk 90 lakh, including both official and personal funds, was lost during the vandalism and looting that took place in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on August 5. This figure was revealed during a meeting held on September 4, 2024, to discuss the overall situation of the Parliament building. The meeting, presided over by Acting Secretary Zebunnesa Karim (Additional Secretary, Committee Support Wing), outlined the steps to address the aftermath of the incident, according to a press release. In response to the losses, a decision was made to take appropriate measures to recover the stolen cash. Additionally, authorities resolved to compile a detailed inventory of lost and damaged goods from various offices, sub-sections, and sections within the Parliament building. This inventory is to be submitted to the respective heads of each department for further action. Heads of departments at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban attended the meeting, where they emphasized the urgent need for repairs in their respective areas. The meeting also resulted in the formation of three committees tasked with enhancing the overall security of key locations, including the Parliament House, the Parliament Member Houses in Manik Mia and Nakhal Para, the Old MP Hostel, Minister Hostel, Secretary Hostel, and surrounding residential areas. The committees have been directed to conduct on-site inspections of the damaged and lost goods, with findings to be reported to the oath room. Urgent measures will be taken to repair damaged computers, printers, scanners, internet connections, telephone exchanges, lines, and other essential equipment within the Parliament building. Various department heads and related officers were present during the meeting. Soon after Sheikh Hasina fled the country, hundreds of thousands of agitators ran into the Jatiya Sangsad and broke through the barricade put on different roads leading to the parliament building and marched towards it. Within minutes, the staircase in front of parliament was filled with thousands of protesters. Vandalism and looting were noticed at that moment.

The third session of the 12th Parliament, which is also the Budget Session, that started on June 5 was prorogued after 19 working days. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury read out the prorogation of the President at 09:05pm. Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali placed the Tk 7.97 lakh crore budget on June 6 while the Finance Bill 2024 was passed on June 29 and the budget for 2024-25 fiscal on June 30. Some 228 MPs discussed the proposed budget for 38 hours and 25 minutes. Of the total number, the number of ruling party members is 172 (29 hours and 12 minutes) and 56 opposition and Independent MPs (9 hours and 13 minutes). Some seven bills have been passed in this session. A total of 117 questions were received for the Prime Minister while she answered 67 questions. The session received 2300 questions for different ministries while the number of the answered questions was 1522. Under the call attention notice, some 105 notices were submitted while none of the notices was discussed in Parliament.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday defended her government's decision to allow transit facilities to India stressing that Bangladesh can’t keep its doors closed in this current global situation. “There is objection as to why we gave transit to India. We already had given transit earlier.  What is the loss for it? Rather we are getting tolls for from the use of roads. The people of our country are getting its benefits. We can earn some money……We can’t keep our doors closed,” she said.  The leader of the House said this while delivering the valedictory speech at the budget session (third session) of the current 12th parliament. Taking a swipe at the critics of her recent visit to India, she said opposition parties continue saying many things about her visit. Govt has no plan to raise age limit to enter govt jobs: Minister She said Bangladesh needs to join trans-Asian highway. “We’ve also gained transit (facilities) from India for (to carry goods to) Nepal and Bhutan,” she said. Noting that Bangladesh brings fuel from Assam, India to Parbatipur depot through pipeline, she said, “We can purchase fuel at cheap rate.”  The PM said the government has a plan to bring the fuel to Natore through the pipeline. She depicted how the interests of the country were neglected during the regimes of military dictators Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad, and also Khaleda Zia. She said Ziaur Rahman opened Bangladeshi market for Indian goods. Zia and Ershad did nothing to solve enclaves and Tin Bigha corridor issues and Khaleda Zia forgot to raise the Ganges water treaty issue during her visit to India in 1990s.  Hasina said she gave objection to sell gas to India before the 2001 general election and rather Khaleda Zia agreed to it and gave undertaking on this. As a result, her party Awami Leauge got the larger percentage of votes but not majority  of seats in that election, she added. First budget session of 12th JS prorogued “We couldn’t form the government since I didn’t agree to sell gas. So, who sold the country? It was Khaleda Zia, HM Ershad and Ziaur Rahman who did it. Awami League doesn’t do it” she continued. The prime minister sought cooperation from MPs so that the recently passed national budget and annual development programme (ADP) are properly implemented in the new fiscal year of 2024-2025. Talking about the Ashrayan project, she said a total of 8,67,977 (8.68 lakh) landless and homeless families have been rehabilitated under the scheme. The total number of beneficiaries is more than 43.39 lakh, she added. The budget session, which started on June 05 last, was prorogued on Wednesday evening after 19 sittings.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told parliament that the government has taken a plan to generate electricity from hydrogen and ammonia alongside the production of solar and wind power in the country.  “It is expected that it would be possible to use hydrogen energy on pilot basis in the country by 2035,” she said replying to a question from Awami League lawmaker Habibur Rahman (Sylhet-3). Earlier, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury tabled the written question-answer in the House  at the start of the day’s sitting at around 5pm. The prime minister said a cell has been formed at the Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL) under Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) to collect the results of ongoing researches and the data of the activities undertaken in the developed world over sustainable and reliable methods of producing hydrogen as energy.  The cell will design a project proposal after receiving reliable information in this regard, she added.  Besides, the PM hoped that the 1,200-megawatt first unit of the 2,400-megawatt Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will go on commercial production by the end of this year. She said a target has been set to generate 40 percent electricity from clean energy (renewable) by 2041 in the country. In reply to another question from AL lawmaker Ali Azam (Bhola-2), the premier said the government is committed to ensuring justice on the basis of equality for all, irrespective of the rich and poor, and establishing justice in the society by making visible improvements in the judiciary system.  She said the current government has relentlessly been working to establish the rule of law in the country by providing assurance of fair trial to alleviate the suffering of the people seeking justice. A total of 1,429 judges were recruited in lower courts since 2009, said Sheikh Hasina. Responding to ruling party lawmaker Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Feni-1), the PM said a total of 8,67,977 (8.68 lakh) landless and homeless families have been rehabilitated under the Ashrayan project. She said the total number of beneficiaries is more than 43.39 lakh. “So far 58 districts and 464 upazilas have been completely freed from the landless and homeless people. Five divisions --Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Khulna and Rajshahi are now completely freed from landless and homeless people. That means, there are no landless homeless people in all these districts, upazilas and divisions,” she added. Answering to a question from AL lawmaker SM Ataul Haque (Satkhira-4), the prime minister said the allocation for the social safety sector has been increased by 9.12 times from Tk 13,845 crore in the 2008-09 fiscal year to Tk 126,272 crore in the current fiscal year of 2023-24, which is 16.58 percent of the total national budget. 

The National Primary Education Academy Bill, 2024 was passed in Parliament on Wednesday,  bringing the National Primary Education Academy in Mymensingh under a law. The Academy had been established under an Ordinance. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Rumana Ali moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote. According to the objective of the Bill, National Academy of Primary Education is a national level training and research institute under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education located in Mymensingh. Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024 passed in Parliament In 1978, this institution was established under the name of Academy for Fundamental Education under the Ministry of Education. The institution was renamed as National Academy of Primary Education in 1985 and it has been functioning as a statutory body from October 1, 2004. One of the responsibilities of this academy is to organise various short-term trainings including basic training for about five lakh field level teachers under the Directorate of Primary Education, conduct research to improve the quality of primary education, provide basic training for teachers held in PTIs, prepare resource books and instructor guides for trainees, Conducting examinations with academic supervision of basic training and issuing certificates to successful trainees. Several training and research institutes were run in Bangladesh in accordance with The Government Educational and Training Institutions Ordinance, 1961. But at present the said institutions have enacted separate laws to carry out relevant activities such as the National Planning and Development Academy Establishment Act, 2018. Parliament passes Local Govt Amendment Bill with new administrator appointment rules National Primary Education Academy, Mymensingh, with the prior approval of the 14-member Board of Governors constituted under the powers conferred by the said Ordinance; Resolution 2004 enacted a resolution and the National Academy of Primary Education is currently operating as per the directives provided by the resolution. It is expedient to enact a law for the National Academy of Primary Education as it is absolutely necessary to conduct systematic training and conduct research activities for the implementation of the National Primary Education Curriculum. Recruitment of manpower is not possible due to lack of National Academy of Primary Education Act or Rules. Officials under various Ministries/Organizations/Department of Primary Education are appointed and join the Academy on deputation, but as most of the officers do not have research and training work experience, it is not possible to involve them in the core work of the Academy. Due to lack of rules and regulations of National Academy of Primary Education, or NAPE, problems are also created in promotion, transfer, posting, orderly arrangements, administrative activities of National Academy of Primary Education employees, while pensions and gratuity allocation code are witheld by the Finance Ministry. Unfit vehicles, factory emissions, dust key culprits in Bangladesh’s air pollution crisis: LGRD Minister tells Parliament It was thus thought to be imperative to enact a separate law to strengthen the legal basis of NAPE, including its own manpower recruitment, promotion and settlement of financial matters. As per the specific directives of the Act/Rules, the National Primary Education Academy would function as a fully autonomous organization and can contribute significantly to the domestic and international arena as a national training and research institute.