Stormy start for 13th Jatiya Sangsad

The first sitting of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad began on a turbulent note on Thursday as opposition lawmakers staged a walkout during the address of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, leading to brief disorder inside the parliamentary chamber.

The protest began shortly after the President arrived in the House to deliver his constitutionally mandated speech marking the start of the new parliamentary term.

Opposition members rose in protest and displayed red cards bearing the slogan “No betrayal with July”, signalling their rejection of the President’s address even before it began.

Tensions escalated when opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party lawmaker Nahid Islam sought to speak after Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed invited the President to address the House.

When he was not given the microphone, Nahid stood and repeatedly shouted “Killer in the parliament”, while chanting “No, no” in protest.

Other opposition lawmakers joined in, holding placards and raising slogans.

During the demonstration, most opposition MPs remained standing in the chamber, while Shafiqur Rahman, Leader of the Opposition and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, initially remained seated at his desk.

As the protest continued, National Citizen Party lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah led further chants, including “Killer Chuppu, boycott Chuppu”, referring to the President.

Amid the commotion, the President entered the chamber and took his seat beside the Speaker.

When President Shahabuddin rose to begin his speech, Shafiqur Rahman stood and addressed him directly, accusing him of failing to fulfil his responsibilities as head of state.

“You were expected to act as the protector of the nation as President,” he said. “However, you failed to discharge that duty and instead played the role of an accomplice to fascism.”

Opposition lawmakers then chanted slogans including “Get out, get out”, “Agents of fascism, beware”, and “Fascism and democracy cannot coexist”, while also directing chants of “Shame, shame” towards members of the treasury benches.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed repeatedly urged lawmakers to maintain parliamentary discipline, but the protests continued as the President proceeded with his address.

After about five minutes, Opposition Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher announced a walkout.

Opposition MPs subsequently left the chamber in protest, leaving members of the treasury benches to hear the remainder of the speech.

Despite the disruption, President Shahabuddin continued delivering his address, which concluded at around 4:30 pm. The Speaker later adjourned the sitting until 15 March.

Earlier in the day, the new parliament formally began its proceedings following the 12 February general election.

Veteran politician Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain presided over the opening session before the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, elected from Bhola-3, was unanimously chosen as Speaker, while Barrister Kayser Kamal, the lawmaker from Netrokona-1, was elected Deputy Speaker.

Addressing the House earlier, Prime Minister and chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Tarique Rahman, urged lawmakers to make the new parliament “meaningful, effective and vibrant” through debate and constructive discussion.

“This is the parliament of the people of Bangladesh,” he said, adding that citizens across the country who support democracy were looking to the new House with hope and expectation.

However, the opposition walkout on the first day highlighted the deep political divisions that continue to shape Bangladesh’s parliamentary politics as the 13th Jatiya Sangsad begins its tenure.