Hafiz Uddin Ahmed elected Speaker, Kayser Kamal Deputy Speaker

Senior BNP parliamentarian Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikrom, and another BNP lawmaker Barrister Kayser Kamal were unanimously elected as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the parliament respectively today. At the outset of the maiden session of the newly formed 13th parliament, MPs first elected the six-time parliamentarian Hafiz Uddin Ahmed as the Speaker of the 13th parliament and then Kayser Kamal in his maiden voyage in Jatiya Sangsad as the Deputy Speaker.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni proposed the name of Hafiz Uddin Ahmed MP (Bhola-3) as the Speaker, which was seconded by Rakibul Islam MP (Khulna-3). Then Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, who was presiding over the House temporarily, placed the proposal on vote. Hafiz Uddin Ahmed was elected speaker uncontested by voice vote. Later, M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu (Natore-2) proposed the name of Kayser Kamal MP (Netrakona-1) as the candidate as Deputy Speaker, which was supported by ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan (Lakshmipur-4). Later, the proposal was also passed by voice votes in the House.

Following their elections, the first sitting of the session went into a 30-minute recess to allow the newly elected speaker and deputy speaker to take oath. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad. Erlier at 11:05, the maiden session of the 13th parliament began with the Speaker’s chair vacant as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker (of the 12th parliament) are currently unavailable. Hafiz Uddin Ahmed was the minister for Liberation War Affairs while Kayser Kamal was the State Minister for Land in this incumbent government.