United News of Bangladesh

Parliament is set to go into the first budget session on Sunday after BNP formed the government following the national election held on February 12, 2026. The session, the second session of 13th parliament, will begin at 3pm in the Jatiya Sangsad. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is likely to place the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year on June 11 (Thursday). BNP parliamentary party meets ahead of budget session Earlier on May 07, President Mohammed Shahabuddin summoned the parliamentary session. The first session of the 13th Parliament ended on April 30. During that session, a total of 94 bills were passed after 25 working days.

The ruling BNP's parliamentary party held a meeting on Saturday ahead of the budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad beginning on Sunday. The meeting began around 3:30pm in the ruling party's meeting in the Parliament Building, with Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman in the chair, said his Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony. “The BNP parliamentary party meeting began with the recitation from the Holy Quran,” he said. Govt plans locally made electric ambulances to strengthen emergency healthcare access The meeting was conducted by Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and attended by BNP Secretary General, and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with ruling party lawmakers. Mirza Fakhrul delivered the welcome address at the meeting. The budget session of Parliament is scheduled to begin on Sunday afternoon. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury is expected to place the national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in Parliament on June 11. This will be the second session of the 13th Parliament, which was formed following the February 12 general election. The first session of the current Parliament began on March 11 and was prorogued on April 30 after 25 sittings.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, on Wednesday said MPs must have a sound understanding of the Rules of Procedure to effectively place proposals and scrutinise bills. He came up with the remark at a two-day orientation programme titled “Constitution, Rules of Procedure and Parliamentary Activities” for members of parliament began at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said the 13th parliament is working to fulfil public expectations in the country’s renewed democratic journey. He said members of parliament represent the people and help ensure accountable governance, adding that the Rules of Procedure are not merely administrative formalities but an essential tool for carrying out parliamentary responsibilities. Highlighting the importance of a vibrant parliament, he said an effective parliament requires both the government and opposition parties to participate constructively in parliamentary proceedings to strengthen public engagement and the legislative process. Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal, Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni, Opposition Leader Md Shafiqur Rahman, UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller and Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli spoke at the event as special guests. Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal said MPs have assumed office with the responsibility of representing the people and are accountable to them in carrying out their duties. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said MPs must listen to the problems of people in their constituencies, work for solutions and actively participate in parliamentary activities while ensuring government accountability. Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said parliament runs with the fund of taxpayers and should work towards ensuring good governance, economic reforms and sustainable democracy. More than 170 MPs participated in the first group of the orientation course, according to a press release.

Speaker of the Jaitya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, has called upon the US to play an important role in resolving the Rohingya crisis. He made the call when US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen paid a courtesy call on him at the latter’s office in the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday. During the meeting, the Speaker informed about the existing Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh. He said the progress of the relationship between Bangladesh and the US started during the Liberation War in 1971 and recalled the contribution of American diplomat Archer Kent Blood who had a significant contribution for Bangladesh during the war. “The governments of Bangladesh and America are crossing a milestone in friendly relations,” he said. Referring to the latest parliamentary election, he said the polls were held in a free and fair manner. He said the people of Bangladesh have always struggled against authoritarianism. The genuine prosperity can be achieved only through democracy, he added. During the meeting, both sides emphasised the importance of duty-free access for Bangladeshi products in the US market, said a press release. They also discussed enhancement of US foreign direct investment in Bangladesh, strengthening people-to-people contacts, celebration of Democracy Day through parliamentary caucus forums, and recovering laundered money from abroad with the assistance of the US government. The two sides also exchanged views on mitigating the ongoing energy crisis through exploration of oil and gas resources in Bangladesh to ease public suffering.

A sub-committee of the Parliament Library Committee has recommended advising the main committee to take steps for selecting a suitable location for the Bangladesh Institute of Parliamentary Studies (BIPS) and appointing a rector for the institute. The recommendation came at the first meeting of the Library Committee’s Sub-Committee No. 3 held at the Jatiya Sangsad Library on Wednesday, according to a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by the sub-committee convener Dr Mahabubur Rahman and attended by members Nayab Yusuf Ahmed and Mohammad Nazibur Rahman. During the meeting, discussions were held on preparing a report for submission to the main committee regarding plans to operate the institute in accordance with the Bangladesh Institute of Parliamentary Studies (BIPS) Act, 2001 by integrating the National Parliament Library with the institute. The sub-committee also discussed presenting and reviewing a comparative overview of parliamentary institutes in Asian and Commonwealth countries alongside Bangladesh’s BIPS. To make BIPS operational, it recommended necessary amendments, additions and revisions to the law before placing it in the Library Committee. Meanwhile, the first meeting of Sub-Committee No. 4 of the Jatiya Sangsad Library Committee was also held at the Parliament Library on Wednesday with convener Mohammad Nazibur Rahman in the chair. Committee member Nayab Yusuf Ahmed also attended the meeting. The meeting discussed the National Parliament Library Regulations 2012 and the National Parliament Research Policy 2023. The sub-committee recommended making necessary amendments, additions, deletions and revisions to the National Parliament Library Regulations 2012 before placing the revised document before the main committee.It also directed that the National Parliament Research Policy 2023 be further reviewed and revised for presentation at the next meeting.

Only nine bills introduced by private members – Members of Parliament who are not ministers or state ministers – have been passed since the first parliament of independent Bangladesh. Of these, eight were initiated by members of the ruling party or coalition, while only one was brought by an opposition member. This information was shared during the first meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Private Members' Bills and Private Members' Resolutions on Tuesday. Women's reserved seats in Parliament set to be filled with oath-taking on Sunday Records reveal that no private members' bills were introduced during the first, sixth, and twelfth parliaments. The sixth parliament lasted only 12 days, while the first and twelfth parliaments had tenures of two years and seven months, and six months and eight days, respectively. Private members introduced bills for the first time in the second parliament, where 47 were submitted, 20 were placed, but two were passed. These successful bills were brought by BNP MP Daulatunnessa Khatun and Muslim League MP Ausafur Rahman. In the third parliament, five bills were introduced, and the Bengali Language Introduction Act, 1987, initiated by Jatiya Party MP TIM Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, was passed. While six bills were brought in the fourth parliament, none was passed. In the fifth parliament, 74 bills were submitted, 12 were placed, but one by BNP MP Farida Rahman was passed. During the seventh parliament, 51 bills were submitted, resulting in the passage of the Father of the Nation's Portrait Preservation and Display Act, 2001, brought by Awami League’s Dewan Farid Gazi. Conversely, in the eighth parliament, the Father of the Nation's Portrait Preservation and Display (Repeal) Act, 2002, initiated by BNP MP Samsul Alam Pramanik, was passed among 54 submitted bills. The ninth parliament saw the most recent successes, with three bills passed: two by Awami League’s Saber Hossain Chowdhury and one by Mujibul Haque Chunnu of the Jatiya Party. Subsequent parliaments – the 10th and 11th – saw 16 and 10 bills submitted respectively, but none was passed. The first session of the current 13th parliament began on 12 March and concluded on 30 April. On the opening day, the committee on Private Members' Bills and Private Members' Resolutions was formed with Md Shahajahan, MP for Noakhali-4, as Chairman. Presiding over Tuesday’s meeting, the Chairman and committee members recommended that the Legislative Drafting Unit of the Parliament Secretariat remain proactive in providing necessary assistance to MPs for drafting private members' bills. The committee also discussed the scope of its activities, constitutional provisions, and rules of procedure. Members were urged to play an active role in encouraging MPs to introduce private bills on issues of public importance to make the committee's functions more dynamic.

The first meeting of the parliamentary committee on “Private Members’ Bills and Private Members’ Resolutions” was held at the Parliament House on Tuesday with committee chairman Md Shahjahan in the chair. Following an introductory session, the meeting was briefed on the activities of the committee relating to private members’ bills and resolutions. The members also held detailed discussions on the committee’s scope of work, private bills and various constitutional and procedural issues related to resolutions and proposals. During the meeting, emphasis was placed on making the committee’s activities more dynamic and effective. Committee members were advised to play an active role in encouraging lawmakers to raise private members’ bills on issues of public importance. The meeting also recommended that the Legislative Drafting Unit of the Parliament Secretariat extend necessary support to MPs in preparing drafts of private members’ bills. At the beginning of the meeting, prayers were offered seeking eternal peace for the souls of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and those who sacrificed their lives during the long anti-fascist movement. Officials concerned from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat were present at the meeting. Committee members including Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Md Amanullah Aman, Md Abul Khayer Bhuiyan, Tahsina Rushdir, Muhammad Nowshad Zamir, Shahjahan Chowdhury and Md Nurul Islam attended the meeting.

Parliament will go into the Budget session on June 7, said a Parliament Secretariat press release on Thursday. President Mohammed Shahabuddin has summoned the second session of the 13th Parliament at 3pm on that day, which will also be the first budget session of the current parliament. According to the release, the President convened the session exercising the powers vested in him under Article 72(1) of the Constitution. Sources at the Parliament Secretariat said Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is scheduled to place the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year on June 11 (Thursday) As it is a budget session, the sitting is expected to be a lengthy one. The duration of the session will be finalised at a meeting of the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee before the House goes into session. The first session of the 13th Parliament ended on April 30. During that session, a total of 94 bills were passed after 25 working days. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 that year, the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year was presented by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed of the interim government.  

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Monday said many problems can easily be resolved if the ruling party and the opposition reach a consensus on key issues in the greater interest of the country. "To institutionalise democracy, Parliament must be strengthened. When the opposition and the ruling parties reach a consensus in Parliament, many problems are solved. The formation of a special committee on energy has solved the country's energy problems," he said. The Chief Whip made the remarks when a delegation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh paid a courtesy call on him at his office, according to a press release. He stressed the need for building mutual trust among all, saying without trust it will be difficult to take the country forward. “Democracy is essential for ensuring good governance,” he added. Focusing on the current challenges, Moni said Bangladesh faces various environmental and economic problems. “The government has been providing financial support to reduce poverty through initiatives like Family Card and Farmers’ Card. The current government has also undertaken programmes like tree plantation and canal excavation to protect the environment,” he added. During the meeting, different issues, including strengthening Parliament, e-governance, e-parliament, poverty alleviation, environmental development, freedom of speech, parliamentary sessions and rules of procedure, were discussed. UNDP representatives present at the meeting included Assistant Resident Representative Anowarul Haq, Assistant Programme Adviser (Governance) Dragan Popovic and Project Manager Mahmudul Hasan.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, on Monday said the country’s democratic advancement was upheld through the February general election. “Through the parliamentary election held in February 2026, the country’s democratic progress was upheld. During the past 16 years under the Awami League government, people’s democratic rights were undermined,” he said. The Speaker made the remarks when Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Jafar H Bin Abiyah paid a courtesy call on him at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, according to a press release. Australian Speaker Milton Dick meets Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad