Published : 01 Apr 2026, 09:57 PM
Updated : 28 Aug 2026, 01:32 AM
The day after assuming the responsibility of presiding over the 13th parliament, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal have paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar.
Later, they also paid tribute at the graves of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and offered prayers.
A press statement from the National Parliament Secretariat on Friday said that in the morning, Speaker Hafiz Uddin laid a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar. Later, Deputy Speaker Kayser paid tribute as well.
They then observed a moment of silence. Afterwards, the speaker and deputy speaker signed the visitor's book.
Hafiz said, “The National Memorial is a most sacred place. It contains and displays Bangladesh’s independence. I feel fortunate and inspired to be able to pay my respects here.”
He said, “I recall with deep respect the great proclaimer of independence, martyred president Ziaur Rahman and three-time former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and I pray for the salvation of the departed souls of those who participated in the Liberation War in 1971 and were martyred.”
The speaker said that he himself had the opportunity to participate in the great Liberation War and was also injured in it.
Hafiz said that in the last 17 years, people from different classes and professions, including political activists of different parties, students, guardians, have been martyred in an anti-authoritarian movement and also paid his deep respect to them.
Talking about the role of the current parliament, he said that the government elected by the people's vote will fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people by implementing the goals of the Liberation War - equality, human dignity and social justice. The parliament will be at the centre of this.
The speaker said, "I have resigned from the party to perform my duties impartially in the national parliament. The opposition party will get sufficient opportunities in parliament."
He said, “My role in running the parliament is to be neutral, like an umpire in a cricket match.”
Later, the speaker and deputy speaker visited the tombs of martyred president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. There, they paid their respects and observed a moment of silence before participating in a prayer service.
At the burial site, Speaker Hafiz said: “Today we have reached a historic moment, when the democratic system has been restored in Bangladesh through a long struggle.”
He said, “We have prayed for the eternal peace of the souls of the great freedom fighter, martyred president Ziaur Rahman, under whose leadership we participated in the frontline war and liberated the country from occupation, and the great leader of democracy, Begum Khaleda Zia, who reintroduced parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh through limitless sacrifice.”
In response to a question, the speaker said, “There has been a debate about the July Charter. This wasn’t needed at all.”
“Everyone should accept the decision taken by the majority of public representatives.”
Responding to another question regarding the walkout of the opposition in the first session of parliament, the speaker said: “It would not be correct to do anything that would bring fascism back. Walkouts in parliament are a common practice, it has always happened. We did it when we were in the opposition.”
“Still, I would say that they (opposition members) were properly disciplined. However, chanting slogans in parliament is not right, it is against the norm. Most of the members of parliament have been elected for the first time and it was the first day. It may take a while for them to nurture parliamentary norms. But whatever they have done was within their rights. We hope they will not do anything more than that.”
Hafiz said, "We have got a democratic parliament in exchange for many sacrifices and hardships. I hope we will be successful in realising the dreams of the people in the coming days. Everyone has to work together to build a prosperous Bangladesh."
"The government and the opposition parties have to work together to propel the country on the path of development," he said.
