New Speaker and Deputy Speaker to be Elected in Opening Session of 13th Parliament

This announcement, made by the Parliament Secretariat on Monday, follows the constitutional mandate under Article 72(1) requiring the first session to convene within 30 days of the official election results. The session must start by March 14 to meet legal requirements following the February 12 general elections.

The opening of this parliament presents a unique procedural scenario due to the resignation of former Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and the incarceration of former Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku. According to constitutional experts and Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure, a senior Member of Parliament nominated by the President will likely preside over the initial proceedings. The primary agenda for the first day will be the election of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker. While these roles are traditionally filled by the ruling party, there is significant speculation that a Deputy Speaker may be chosen from the opposition as part of the "July Charter" consensus.

The election process will follow standard parliamentary norms where one MP proposes a name for Speaker and another seconds it. If there is only one candidate, the election will be finalized through a voice vote. Once the Speaker is elected and sworn in by the President, they will take the chair and oversee the election of the Deputy Speaker. The session will then officially commence with a formal address from the President, outlining the new government's legislative priorities and national vision.