Parliament will be the center for solving national problems: Prime Minister

After the end of a long decade and a half of misrule, the journey of the 13th National Parliament has begun with representatives elected by the people's vote, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said.

He said that the country has got a responsible parliament today in exchange for the sacrifice of thousands of lives.

In his speech at the first session of the National Parliament on Thursday (March 12), he said that from now on, the parliament will be the main center for all arguments, exchange of views and solving national problems in the country.

At the beginning of his speech, the Prime Minister paid deep respect to the martyrs from the 1971 Liberation War to the 2024 student uprising. He said that today's responsible parliament has been established through the tears of countless people who were victims of the brutality of fascism and the sacrifice of thousands of lives.

Referring to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia as the pioneer of parliamentary democracy, Tarique Rahman said that she institutionalized parliamentary democracy in the country. But during the next regime, that parliament was turned into a farce. Although she fought uncompromisingly, she could not see the beginning of this new parliament.

At the same time, quoting a statement by martyred President Ziaur Rahman, he said, ‘If the people are the political party, then I am in that party.’ The main philosophy of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is to prioritize the interests of the people over individuals or parties.

The Prime Minister also said that although I was elected by the party, I am representing the entire country as the Prime Minister. The political programs may be different, but everyone needs unity on the issue of building a sovereign, secure and self-reliant Bangladesh.

He also highlighted the special situation of the current parliament. In his words, ‘Due to the public anger during the previous government, none of the former Speakers and Deputy Speakers are available—some are in jail, some are absconding.’

The Prime Minister proposed the name of senior MP Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain to preside over the proceedings of the Parliament until the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected.

He said that in 1973, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had also proposed the name of Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish. Following that example, the proceedings of the current Parliament have been started.