Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus Attends Historic First Session of 13th Parliament

The session commenced at 11:00 AM at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, marking a definitive transition to democratic governance following the 18-month tenure of the interim administration. Dr. Yunus's presence in the gallery was met with a warm reception, symbolizing the successful culmination of the "July Uprising" reforms that paved the way for the participatory general election held on February 12.

The inaugural session, summoned by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, represents the first time the House has sat since the fall of the previous regime on August 5, 2024. During his tenure as Chief Adviser from August 2024 to February 2026, Dr. Yunus led the country through a critical period of institutional restructuring and oversaw the implementation of the "July Charter." His attendance today serves as a ceremonial handover of the nation's legislative responsibility to the newly elected representatives, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

One of the primary agendas for this maiden session is the formal placement of over 130 ordinances promulgated during the interim government's tenure. According to Article 93(2) of the Constitution, these ordinances must be laid before Parliament for approval to be enacted as permanent laws. The presence of Dr. Yunus, who signed many of these reformatory measures, underscores the continuity between the interim administration's anti-fascist mandates and the legislative priorities of the 13th Parliament.

Observers noted that the atmosphere inside the House was one of renewal, with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading the treasury bench and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami—alongside the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP)—forming a diverse opposition. As the new Speaker, Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, took the chair, the presence of the "Banker to the Poor" in the parliament house served as a powerful reminder of the civil society's role in reclaiming the country's democratic space.