Bangladesh’s newly formed 13th Parliament has elected senior BNP lawmaker Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikrom, as its Speaker, while Barrister Kayser Kamal has been chosen as Deputy Speaker. The two were elected unanimously during the inaugural sitting of the new parliament on Thursday.
The elections took place at the beginning of the parliament’s first session, with lawmakers first selecting Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, a six-time Member of Parliament from Bhola-3, to preside over the House as Speaker. He was elected uncontested through a voice vote.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni formally proposed Hafiz Uddin Ahmed’s name for the position, and the proposal was seconded by Rakibul Islam, the Member of Parliament representing Khulna-3. The motion was then placed before the House by Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, who was temporarily presiding over the session, and it was approved without opposition.
Following the election of the Speaker, the House proceeded to elect the Deputy Speaker. The name of Barrister Kayser Kamal, the Member of Parliament from Netrakona-1, was proposed by M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, representing Natore-2, and supported by ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan, the MP from Lakshmipur-4. The proposal was also adopted through a voice vote, making Kamal the Deputy Speaker of the 13th Parliament.
After the elections, parliamentary proceedings were suspended for about 30 minutes to allow the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker to take their oaths of office. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to both leaders at his office within the Jatiya Sangsad complex.
Earlier in the day, the maiden session of the new parliament began at 11:05am with the Speaker’s chair vacant, as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker from the previous parliament were unavailable to preside over the opening sitting.
Hafiz Uddin Ahmed previously served as Minister for Liberation War Affairs, while Kayser Kamal held the position of State Minister for Land in the current government. Their election marks the first major leadership appointments in the 13th Parliament, which began its term following the February general election.
The appointment of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is a key step in organising the parliamentary leadership and ensuring the smooth conduct of legislative business as the new parliament begins its work.
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