Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said Bangladesh has entered a new phase of parliamentary democracy as the 13th Jatiya Sangsad begins its first session, describing the legislature as a people-accountable and representative institution elected by voters.
Speaking at the opening of the inaugural sitting of the newly elected parliament on Thursday, the prime minister said the start of the new parliamentary term marked a significant moment in the country’s political history.
“At this historic moment of Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad, I express gratitude to Almighty Allah whose mercy has allowed us to begin our journey toward building a just, democratic and humane Bangladesh,” he told lawmakers.
Rahman, who is also the Leader of the House, made the remarks while proposing senior BNP leader and Member of Parliament from Cumilla-2, Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, to temporarily preside over the chamber during the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
In his address, the prime minister paid tribute to individuals who lost their lives in political struggles for democracy and rights, including those who fought in the 1971 War of Independence and those involved in more recent movements.
He also acknowledged the families of victims who lost relatives, as well as those injured or affected during political unrest and campaigns for democratic rights. Rahman said people from diverse backgrounds — including students, workers, professionals, and political activists — had faced repression, violence and hardship in the course of these struggles.
Referring to allegations of enforced disappearances, secret detention facilities and political repression in previous years, the prime minister said such measures had failed to suppress demands for democratic governance.
According to Rahman, public participation — particularly the role of students and the wider population — played a decisive role in restoring democratic institutions in the country.
At the beginning of the 13th parliament’s journey, he congratulated citizens who, in his words, had contributed to the return of democratic governance, and he thanked voters for participating in the electoral process that led to the formation of the new parliament.
Addressing lawmakers, Rahman also reflected on the political legacy of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, saying she had worked to strengthen parliamentary democracy and institutional governance during her time in office.
He said the new parliament should serve as a forum for discussion and debate on national issues and should work toward resolving problems through dialogue and democratic procedures.
“We want to make this Jatiya Sangsad the centre of debate, discussion and solutions to the country’s challenges,” he told members.
The prime minister emphasised that while he represents the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in parliament, his role as prime minister requires him to represent the interests of the entire country.
“Our politics must prioritise the interests of the nation and its people,” he said, adding that his government aims to improve living standards and build a self-reliant economy.
Rahman also called on lawmakers from all political parties to cooperate in establishing a stable and democratic Bangladesh, noting that despite political differences, there should be common ground in safeguarding national sovereignty and development.
He said the new parliament was beginning its work in what he described as unusual circumstances after more than a decade of political tensions. The session opened without the presence of the previous Speaker or Deputy Speaker, prompting the nomination of a senior lawmaker to temporarily preside over proceedings.
Rahman noted that similar arrangements had existed in the past, citing the first parliament of independent Bangladesh in 1973 when a member of parliament presided over the inaugural session following a proposal from the then prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Under the proposal placed before the House, Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain was nominated to oversee the proceedings until the election of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker, marking the first procedural step in the functioning of the 13th parliament.
The new parliament was formed after the February general election and is expected to begin legislative and oversight work as the government seeks to strengthen democratic institutions and address national priorities.
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