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Published : 12 Mar 2026, 03:39 PM
The 13th parliament has included the names of six Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and a BNP leader, all convicted of war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War, in the condolence motion of its first session.
The names were added on Thursday following the election of the speaker and deputy speaker.
After a brief recess, the House moved to adopt the condolence motion, which traditionally honours the deceased since the last session.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad announced the inclusion of Jamaat’s Motiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid, Abdul Quader Mollah, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, Mir Quasem Ali, and Delwar Hossain Sayeedi. The name of BNP’s former MP and standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was also incorporated.
Nizami and Mujahid served as ministers in the BNP–Jamaat alliance government during the 2001–2006 term, while Sayeedi was a member of parliament.
All seven individuals were convicted of crimes against humanity, including genocide, rape, and torture, by the International Crimes Tribunal during the previous Awami League administration. Sayeedi, sentenced to life imprisonment, died in custody, while the other six were executed between 2012 and 2016.
The agenda for the first day of the 13th parliament included the election of the speaker and deputy speaker, a condolence motion, and the president’s address.
After the newly elected speaker took the chair, the house observed condolence motions in memory of Khaleda Zia, local and foreign dignitaries, former presidents and former members of parliament, those killed in the July Uprising and the victims of the Milestone School and College jet crash.
Following the introduction of the condolence motion, Chief Whip Nurul Islam proposed adding several more names.
His proposal included Nizami, Mujahid, Sayeedi and Jhenaidah-2 MP Mashiur Rahman. The speaker later approved the request.
Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman then rose to speak, saying some names had been omitted from the motion.
He asked Deputy Opposition Leader Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher to address the issue, and the speaker gave him the floor.
Taher said the condolence motion had been “made unilaterally” and stressed the need for greater awareness to make parliament “neutral and vibrant” in the future.
During his speech, he mentioned several additional names and demanded that they be included in the motion.
Among those he cited were Nizami, Sayeedi, Abdus Sobhan, Sheikh Ansar Ali, Riasat Ali, Abdul Khaleque Mondal, Hafeza Asma Khatun, Rokeya Ansar, Sultana Razia, Rasheda Khatun, Mujahid, AKM Yusuf, Nazir Ahmed, Kamaruzzaman, Abdul Quader Mollah and Mir Quasem Ali.
Taher also said that in the condolence motion referring to the Shapla Chattar incident, the term “Jamaat-e-Islami” should be replaced with “Hifazat-e Islami”.
Referring to the victims of the July Uprising, he spoke of about 2,000 martyrs and also paid tribute to Sharif Osman bin Hadi.
In response, the speaker said the names mentioned by the deputy opposition leader would be incorporated into the condolence motion.
The chief whip later proposed adding several more names, including Gautam Chakroborty, MA Matin, Mojibur Rahman Monju, Anwarul Hossain Khan and Air Vice Marshal AK Khandker.
He also requested the Parliament Secretariat notify the house if the name of any former MP or eminent individual had been left out.
Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam then proposed including Hadi, Abrar Fahad and Felani in the motion. The speaker said those names would also be added.
The speaker also told the house that discussions would first be held on Khaleda and the victims of July before the condolence motion was formally taken up.
The condolence motion also paid tribute to former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, Catholic leader Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio), Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.
The condolence motion also included the names of notable figures such as July activists Abu Sayed, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, Shahariar Khan Anas, Mehdi Hasan Jewel, and Farhan Faiyaz.
The condolence motion was adopted by parliament following a series of discussions on the life of Khaleda and the sacrifices of the martyred July uprising fighters.
Before that, a minute of silence was observed in honour of the deceased. Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad prayed for the forgiveness of their souls.
Members of parliament who took part in the discussion on the condolence motion for Khaleda included Anindya Islam Amit, Andaleeve Rahman Partho, ATM Azharul Islam, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Those who spoke during the discussion on the July martyrs included Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nahid Islam, Zonayed Saki, and Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee.
The session was presided over by senior parliamentarian Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. Hafiz Uddin was unanimously elected speaker and Kayser Kamal deputy speaker.
