Gazette confirms Jamaat's Shafiqur as opposition leader, Taher as deputy

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has officially recognised Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman as the opposition leader in parliament.

A gazette notification published on Thursday also confirmed the appointment of the party’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher as the deputy leader of the opposition.

The speaker granted the recognition under the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament and relevant laws, the notice said.

As the head of the largest party or alliance opposing the government in the current parliament, Shafiqur Rahman will now enjoy the rank, pay, and privileges of a full cabinet minister, according to the notice.

The move comes after the opposition alliance initially nominated Shafiqur and Taher for the roles on Feb 17, shortly after the newly elected opposition alliance lawmakers took their oaths.

At the time, they also nominated Nahid Islam as the chief whip.

The formal recognition, however, remained pending until the election of the speaker.

Following the general election on Feb 12, the BNP formed the government with an absolute majority.

The 13th parliament held its first session on Mar 12, during which Hafiz Uddin and Kayser Kamal were elected speaker and deputy speaker, respectively.

The official recognition coincides with a charged atmosphere in the new parliament.

On the opening day of the first session, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout during the president's speech amid heated debates over condolence motions and parliamentary proceedings.