Maiden session of 13th parliament to run until 30 April

The first session of the 13th parliament will continue until 30 April, with 50 hours set aside for discussion on the President’s address. 
The decision was taken at the first meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the 13th parliament on Saturday at the Cabinet Room of the Parliament Complex, according to a press release issued by the parliament secretariat.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, who also chairs the committee, presided over the meeting, which was attended by Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Other members present included Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Chief Whip Nurul Islam, Law Minister Asaduzzaman, opposition member ATM Azharul Islam, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, and treasury bench member Muhammad Nawshad Zamir.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal attended the meeting at the special invitation of the speaker. Secretary of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat Kaniz Moula and senior officials were also present.
During the meeting, the committee discussed the time allocation and duration of the first session and decided that a total of 50 hours will be allocated for discussion on the President’s speech. The Speaker has been empowered to make any necessary changes to the House schedule and working days of the session if required.
A total of 468 questions have been received for this session, including eight questions for the prime minister and 460 for other ministers. In addition, 27 notices under Rule 71 and 97 notices under Rule 131 of the Rules of Procedure have been submitted.

Constitutional reform issue may be raised: Salahuddin
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that the formation of a constitutional reform council may be discussed in Parliament during the session. Speaking to reporters after the Business Advisory Committee meeting, he added that tomorrow’s sitting will be adjourned for the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays and is scheduled to resume on 29 March.
The ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government will be referred to a special committee, which will review and submit reports for consideration in Parliament, he said.
Shafiqur Rahman officially recognised as Opposition Leader
The Speaker of the House has officially recognised Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, MP from Dhaka-15, as the Leader of the Opposition, following a gazette notification issued on 12 March by the parliament secretariat. The recognition was granted under Rule 2(1)(Ta) of the Rules of Procedure of the Jatiya Sangsad of Bangladesh and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 2021.
Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, MP for Comilla-11, has been recognised as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition under the same law. The recognition was based on the parliamentary party or alliance holding the highest number of seats in the 13th parliament.