News Flash
DHAKA, Mar 11, 2026 (BSS) – Lawmakers of the ruling party have entrusted Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with nominating candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS).
Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni said the lawmakers bestowed the responsibility to the premier at a meeting of the BNP parliamentary party held this afternoon on the ninth floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
“The parliamentary party (PP) meeting discussed the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. We have decided that the Leader of the House will finalise the nominations for the posts of Speaker and the Deputy Speaker,” he said.
He added, “You will know tomorrow who will hold these posts.”
The PP meeting was held at about 11:15 am with Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin will address the first session of the parliament.
Outlining the programme of the first sitting of the parliament, the Chief Whip said the Leader of the House delivered a directive speech at the PP meeting today regarding how lawmakers should behave in parliament and what their activities would be.
Giving an idea about the proceedings, the Chief Whip said the parliament would not sit in the usual manner as there is no previous Speaker or Deputy Speaker. The session will start with an empty chair in the House and a recitation from the Holy Quran.
He continued, “The Prime Minister and Leader of the House will then propose the name of a senior leader to preside over the sitting. After the proposal is seconded by another member, he will preside over the sitting. In that sitting we will elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.”
He went on saying that after the election of the Speaker, once he takes the chair, the panel of chairpersons will be nominated and a condolence motion will be raised and discussed.
“The condolence motion will include discussions on late national leader and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the July fighters and other distinguished personalities who embraced martyrdom,” he said.
“After that, 133 ordinances will be placed in the House. The Law Minister will place those ordinances. The report of the Public Service Commission for 2024 will be presented and then the Leader of the House will deliver a speech,” he added.
The Chief Whip said efforts would be made to form the Business Advisory Committee, Special Committee, Privilege Committee and other parliamentary committees. “If these cannot be formed tomorrow, we will form them later,” he added.
Replying to a question whether there had been any discussion on giving the post of Deputy Speaker to the opposition and whether any response had been received, the Chief Whip said, “We have not yet received any positive response in this regard. If we receive a response, we will take steps accordingly.”
Asked whether any decision had been taken regarding the Deputy Leader of the House, he said, “No decision has been taken in this regard. The Leader of the House will decide whether there will be a Deputy Leader of the House.”
Responding to a question on the July Charter of the National Consensus Commission, the Chief Whip said, “Our position regarding the July Charter is very clear. We did not take oath on it because it is not in the constitution.”
“After it is included in the constitution, we will decide in the next stage,” he added.
He said the 133 ordinances would be sent to a special committee for scrutiny and those that lapse or are accepted would be dealt with according to the rules, while those required to be passed would be approved in parliament.
The election to the 13th Jatiya Sangsad was held on February 12. After the swearing-in of the newly elected MPs on February 17, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman was unanimously elected Leader of the House at the first meeting of the BNP parliamentary party. Later that afternoon, he took oath as the Prime Minister.
In the 300-seat parliament, the results of two constituencies remain suspended and the election in one seat was cancelled due to the death of a candidate. Of the remaining 297 seats, BNP secured 209, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami 68, National Citizen Party (NCP) 6 and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis 2 seats.
Besides, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Ganosanghati Andolon and Khelafat Majlis secured one seat each, while independent candidates won seven seats.
