SANGSAD BHABAN, Mar 12, 2026 (BSS) – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said that a people-accountable and truly representative parliament elected by the people has begun its journey again in the country through the tears of countless victims of fascism and the sacrifice of thousands of lives.  “At this historic moment of Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad, I would like to express gratitude to the Almighty Allah, by whose infinite mercy, we have been able to begin our journey towards building a just, democratic and humane Bangladesh,” he said. Tarique Rahman, also the Leader of the House, made the remarks in his welcome speech while he was proposing the name of BNP’s senior leader and lawmaker from Cumilla-2 constituency Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain to preside over the House temporarily for the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker by the Members of Parliament. In his speech, he paid tribute to all those who had been martyred in the struggle for democracy and rights, from the War of Independence in 1971 to the struggle to protect the country and its people in 2024. At the beginning of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, the premier also recalled with gratitude those who lost their children, near and dear ones and relatives, those injured people who had to loss their comfortable lives in the movement for democracy and human rights as well as those who lost everything due to torture, political harassment or false cases during the fascism.  In this connection, he mentioned the people from all walks of life—including students, farmers, workers, teachers, poets, writers, journalists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, craftsmen, fishermen, weavers, drivers, businesspeople, government and private employees, homemakers and leaders, activists and supporters of democratic political parties across the country —who endured repression, abduction, killings, torture and harassment. The Prime Minister said even brutal detention centres described as “Ayna Ghar,” enforced disappearances and various forms of repression could not suppress their democratic aspirations. He said it was the courageous role of the people—especially the students and masses—that restored democracy in the country.  At the start of the 13th Parliament’s journey, Tarique Rahman congratulated the democracy-loving and freedom-loving people of the country, particularly the students and the people who played a leading role to this end. Addressing the lawmakers, the Prime Minister said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had established parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh and institutionalized the system to ensure people’s rights. Tarique Rahman, also BNP chairman, said but that democratic system was later turned into a mockery and the Jatiya Sangsad had been reduced to a subject of ridicule by establishing an authoritarian regime and exploitation in the country. Noting that Begum Khaleda Zia fought until the last day of her life to restore parliamentary democracy and people’s rights, Tarique Rahman said but she (Khaleda Zia) never compromised with autocracy or fascism. “That long-cherished parliamentary democracy began its journey once again in the country today, Alhamdulillah,” the Leader of the House said. “The founder of parliamentary politics, Khaleda Zia, could not witness this auspicious moment in the success of the country and the people. Therefore, standing in this House, we remember with deep respect the late Khaleda Zia, an uncompromising leadership to protect the country and its people as well as a memorable, distinguished and exemplary political figure,” he said. Citing a quote from Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman“If the people themselves become a political party, then I belong to that party”, he said this statement reflects that the interest of the people must come before the interests of individuals or parties, which is the core philosophy of BNP’s politics. Stating that he has been elected as a member of parliament (MP) from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the first time and has also chosen as the parliamentary party leader, he said, “Although I represent (my) party in the Jatiya Sangsad, as the Prime Minister, I represent the entire country in this House”. The premier stressed that his politics is about protecting the interests of the country and its people. “BNP’s politics is about improving people’s living standards and building a self-reliant Bangladesh. The goal of our politics is to make every family self-reliant,” he added. Noting that BNP wants to establish a self-reliant, prosperous, safe and democratic Bangladesh by making every family self-reliant, Tarique Rahman sought the support and cooperation from the people as well as all elected members of parliament from all political parties to achieve this goal. “I believe that our parties, opinions, and programmes may be different, but there can be no disagreement between us in establishing an independent, sovereign, safe and self-reliant Bangladesh free from fascism and subjugation,” he added. The Leader of the House criticized the previous regime, saying the ousted fascist government had rendered the Jatiya Sangsad ineffective instead of making it the centre of national activities. “We want to make this great Jatiya Sangsad the center of all arguments, debates and solutions to national problems,” he said.  Referring to the start of the new Jatiya Sangsad session, the Prime Minister said that traditionally the former Speaker or Deputy Speaker should have been present when the parliament began its journey.  However, he said that due to public outrage generated by the anti-people activities of the fallen, defeated and ousted fascist government, the former Speaker and Deputy Speaker could not be found. Some of them are in prison, some missing and others absconding, the premier added. After more than a decade and a half of fascist and subservient rule, Tarique Rahman said that the activities of the Jatiya Sangsad were starting under a special circumstance with representatives elected by the people. In such a situation, following the provisions of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, he proposed the name of Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, a veteran politician and five-time elected lawmaker, to preside over the maiden session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.  The Leader of the House noted that such situations are not unprecedented in Bangladesh’s parliamentary history.  Tarique Rahman said, in 1973, the then Prime Minister late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had proposed the name of Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish, a member of parliament, to preside over the first session of the country’s first parliament.