President calls first Parliament session on 12 March

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has summoned the first session of the 13th National Parliament on 12 March, according to a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat on Monday.

The session will begin at 11am and has been convened under Article 72(1) of the Constitution, the release signed by Md Emdadul Haque, director of public relations at the Secretariat, read.

Under constitutional provisions, the newly elected lawmakers will elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker on the first day of the session. Formal parliamentary activities will begin following their election.

The first session must be held within 30 days of the declaration of the election results. 

The Election Commission published the gazette of the elected members on 13 February after the 13th parliamentary polls were held on 12 February under the interim government. The BNP secured a two-thirds majority and formed the government.

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The issue of convening the session was discussed at a meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, at the Secretariat on Sunday.

After the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told journalists that the President would summon the session on 12 March on the advice of the prime minister.

He said the Speaker and Deputy Speaker would be elected during the session. Ordinances issued during the interim government would also be placed before Parliament, alongside a condolence motion and the President’s address.