Bangladesh’s parliament has reconvened for the first time since a 2024 uprising and recent elections, with the new PM calling for unity to tackle economic and political challenges.
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s parliament convened on Thursday for the first time since a deadly 2024 uprising plunged the country into turmoil and following elections held last month.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), addressed the newly assembled house after his government took over from an interim administration that had ruled since August 2024.
“After more than a decade and a half of fascist and subservient rule, the activities of parliament are beginning today with representatives elected by the people,” Rahman told parliament.
He called on all lawmakers to work together to build a prosperous and democratic country, blaming the toppled government of Sheikh Hasina for undermining the previous parliament’s function.
Hasina, who has been sentenced in absentia to death for crimes against humanity, is currently in self-imposed exile in India according to the report.
Rahman promised to make parliament the centre of national debate aimed at resolving the country’s pressing problems, which include tackling a sluggish economy and restoring stability after months of turmoil.
The nation, which is the world’s second-largest garment exporter and heavily dependent on fossil fuel imports, has also been hit hard by an oil price spike linked to the Middle East conflict.
A new speaker, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, and his deputy, Kayser Kamal, both from the BNP, were elected to office during the session.
The parliament building, which was looted during the August 2024 uprising, has since been repaired for the new session.
The BNP-led alliance secured 212 seats in last month’s elections, with the BNP alone winning 209 of those seats.
The leader of the opposition is Shafiqur Rahman, who heads a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance that holds 76 seats, with Jamaat alone accounting for 68 of those.
