The 12th Jatiya Sangsad starts its journey today with a strong dominance of the ruling Awami League, appearance of a good number of independent lawmakers,but no representation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party that boycotted the January 7 general elections.
Amid the absence of the BNP, Jatiya Party (Ershad) has appeared as the main opposition in parliament for the third consecutive term, securing only 11 seats while as many as 62 independent candidates, mostly AL rebels, became victorious.
The JP played the opposition role in parliament for the first time in 2014 because of the BNP-Jamaat alliance boycott of the January 5 polls that year.
It became the opposition again despite BNP-dominated Oikya Front’s participation in 2018 polls. But the BNP-dominated Oikya Front was not recognised as opposition for not securing the second highest number of seats.
As the session kicks off, the BNP is scheduled to bring out a nationwide black flag procession today, demanding the dissolution of what they said was a ‘dummy parliament’ while calling for a fresh election under a non-partisan neutral caretaker government.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed some restrictions on holding any type of rally, procession and protest meeting to maintain peace and discipline in and around parliament areas. The restriction will come into effect from 12 midnight on Monday.
Sheikh Hasina, who has taken oath as Prime Minister for the fourth consecutive term, will lead the House for the fourth term in a row.
Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader, elected from Rangpur-3 constituency, has been made the leader of the opposition for the first time.
The Parliament Secretariat on Sunday published a gazette notification in this regard.
The maiden session of the 12th parliament starts at 3:00pm as President Mohammed Shahabuddin has convened the session, exercising the power bestowed upon him as per clause (1) of article 72 of the Constitution.
The President will address the first day of the session to go by a Constitutional provision. The cabinet has already approved the speech of the President.
As per the law, the President will address the first day of the first session of any parliament and first day session of the New Year.
As per the rules of procedure, the Speaker and deputy Speaker should be elected at the first sitting after a general election.
Lawmakers directly elect the Speaker and deputy Speaker of the House. The eligibility to become the Speaker and deputy Speaker of the House is they should be lawmakers.
The incumbent Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has been elected lawmaker from Rangpur-6.
The Awami League Parliamentary Party has already nominated the incumbent Speaker as the Speaker of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad.
With this nomination, Chaudhury is going to be elected as the Speaker for the record fourth consecutive term.
After the election, the Speaker will adopt a condolence motion and the House will run a discussion on the motion.
After a brief recess, the House will begin again and the President will deliver his speech.
The first day’s business will end soon after the end of the President’s speech.
