The maiden session of the 10th Parliament, formed through a much-debated general election, has convened.
Published : 29 Jan 2014, 05:18 PM
The BNP, which had either been the ruling party or the main Opposition since the ‘90s, was absent from the House since the party and its allies had boycotted the Jan 5 polls.
Outgoing Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali presided over the session that started on Wednesday evening with recitation from the Quran.
Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury did not preside over the session at the beginning since she was a candidate for the Speaker’s post.
Shawkat Ali congratulated Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina on behalf of Parliament on becoming the Prime Minister for the third time.
“There is no alternative to democracy. The 10th parliamentary polls will remain as a milestone in maintaining democratic practices,” he said.
The election of the Speaker was the first on the maiden session’s agenda.
Outgoing Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali put to vote the nomination proposals for Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as Speaker and Fazle Rabbi Miah as Deputy Speaker.
MPs responded with ‘yes’ to both.