Row Over President’s Speech as Parliament Opens

Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament is set to begin its first session on Thursday, but political tensions are already rising over the issue of the President’s address.

The ruling party says it is a long-standing constitutional practice for the President to deliver a speech at the opening of the first parliamentary session. According to the government, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will address the parliament as part of that tradition.

However, opposition leaders have strongly objected to the move.

Deputy opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said the President has no legitimate authority to deliver such a speech in the current political context.

He questioned why the government and the BNP were moving forward with the decision.

Meanwhile, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has called for broader constitutional changes. He urged the government to arrange the oath of a constitutional reform council and initiate the process to remove the current President and elect a new one.

On the other hand, opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said Jamaat-e-Islami intends to play a responsible role in parliament.

He stated that the party would not oppose everything blindly, but it would also avoid unconditional support without proper consideration.

According to him, legal action will only be considered if political solutions fail.

Political observers say Bangladesh has long suffered from the absence of an effective parliament. One-sided governments, weak opposition and disputed elections had weakened the institution in previous years.

Following recent political upheaval and a shift in power, expectations are high for a more vibrant and functional parliament.

In the new political arrangement, the BNP is leading the government, while Jamaat-e-Islami and the student-backed NCP are playing the role of the opposition.

Many hope the 13th parliament will mark a turning point and restore parliamentary vitality in Bangladesh.