Fourth session of parliament begins, three Ordinances being tabled

The fourth session of the 13th National Parliament has begun. The session started today, Monday, at 3:38 PM in the Parliament chamber of the National Parliament Building in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, the capital. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram is presiding over it.

Today's agenda includes nomination of the panel of presiding members, condolence motion, question-and-answer session, attention to urgent matters of public importance (Rule 71), and law-making activities.

In addition, three ordinances issued after the third session and before the fourth session will be presented in Parliament at today's sitting. These are: the Public Procurement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026; the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026; and the Special Solar Power Installation Ordinance, 2026.

Earlier, at the fifth meeting of the National Parliament's Business Advisory Committee Sunday, it was decided that the fourth session will continue until November 18. Except for government holidays, the session's sittings will begin at 4:20 PM every day. The Speaker has been given the authority to make any changes to the session's time and working days if necessary.

The meeting was chaired by Business Advisory Committee Chairman and National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad. Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, along with other committee members, participated in it.

In this session, 174 questions have been submitted for the Prime Minister and 3,577 for other ministers. Altogether, the number of questions is 3,751. In addition, 92 notices for attention to urgent matters of public importance under Rule 71 and 281 notices for decision proposals under Rule 131 have been submitted.

Five Members Nominated to the Panel of Presiding Members

A five-member panel of presiding members has been nominated for the fourth session of the 13th National Parliament. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad made the nominations in accordance with Rule 12(1) of the Rules of Procedure.

The nominated members are: Mohammad Shahjahan, Member of Parliament for Noakhali-4; Sarwar Jamal Nizam, Chattogram-13; Mohammad Nawshad Zamir, Panchagarh-1; Shahjahan Chowdhury, Chattogram-15; and Rasheda Begum Hira, Member of Parliament for Reserved Women's Seat-3.

In the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the member of the panel whose name appears first in the list will preside over the Speaker's seat and conduct the proceedings of Parliament.

Condolence Motion in Parliament

Meanwhile, a condolence motion was adopted in the National Parliament on Monday on the deaths of four former Members of Parliament and one former member of the Constituent Assembly. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad moved the condolence motion on this day.Those on whose deaths the condolence motion was adopted are: former Member of Parliament Md. Monwar Hossain Chowdhury, Bir Muktijoddha Barrister Abu Taher Abdul Muntakim Chowdhury (former member of the Constituent Assembly), former Member of Parliament Salahuddin Ahmed, former Member of Parliament and former Deputy Minister Abdul Hai, and former Member of Parliament and Bir Muktijoddha Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman.In addition, Parliament expressed grief and sorrow over the deaths of Amena Begum, mother of Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid; Mochammat Maksuda Khanam, mother of Mohammad Salman Omar, Member of Parliament for Mymensingh-1; writer, researcher, and thinker Professor Saeed Ur Rahman; and distinguished journalist Amir Khosru.On the other hand, prayers were offered for the forgiveness of the departed souls of those who lost their lives in accidents in various places at home and abroad, and sincere condolences were extended to the members of the bereaved families.Later, the condolence motion was adopted unanimously. Standing in respect for the deceased, Parliament observed one minute of silence and offered prayers for the peace of their souls. State Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Shameem Kaisar Lincoln conducted the prayers.