Speaker, deputy speaker pay tribute at Nat’l Memorial and graves of Zia, Khaleda

The speaker and deputy speaker of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad paid tribute at the National Memorial in Savar on Friday before visiting the graves of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, as the newly elected parliament's presiding officers made their first public appearances following their election to office.
Speaker Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, said after the wreath-laying at Savar that parliament would serve as the focal point for fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people, built on the Liberation War's founding principles of equality, human dignity and social justice. 
He added that he had resigned from his party to discharge his duties impartially. “The opposition will get sufficient opportunity in the parliament,” he said. 
On the opposition’s walkout during the opening session, the speaker said, “Walkouts have been a long-standing practice in parliament. We also did this when we were in the opposition,” he said.
He drew a distinction, however, between walkouts and conduct inside the chamber. “Shouting slogans in the parliament is not appropriate. It is beyond the decorum of the house.”
He noted that most newly elected members were first-time parliamentarians and that it would take time to internalise parliamentary procedures, but said they had exercised their democratic rights.
The speaker and deputy speaker subsequently visited the graves of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia in Sher-e-Banglanagar, laying wreaths, observing a moment of silence and participating in prayers for the departed.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Hafiz Uddin described the current moment as historic, following what he called the restoration of democratic rule through a long struggle.
He said the people of Bangladesh had delivered a two-thirds majority to the BNP, creating the conditions for democratic advancement.
He called for cooperation between the government and the opposition as the only means by which parliament could fulfil its purpose. “We want to see a united nation and a functional parliament”. 
He urged collective vigilance against the return of fascism. He also cautioned against unnecessary controversy over the July Charter and said decisions made by elected representatives of the majority must be respected.
The speaker recalled Ziaur Rahman as the proclaimer of independence who led the nation in frontline combat, and praised Khaleda Zia for her sacrifices in reinstating parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal accompanied the speaker throughout the day’s engagements.