Who are in discussion as Speaker, Deputy Speaker?

The first session of the 13th Parliament is scheduled to convene on March 12. As per the constitution, this initial session should normally begin under the chairmanship of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker from the previous parliament. 

However, since the Speaker of the 12th Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, resigned in September 2024 and Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku remains in prison facing a murder case, an alternative presiding officer is required to open the proceedings.

The BNP parliamentary party is set to hold a meeting on Wednesday, the day before the session begins. 

This meeting, to be chaired by the parliamentary leader and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is expected to finalize decisions on who will preside over the opening and guide the subsequent election of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker. 

According to BNP sources, standing committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain is a leading candidate to take on this temporary presiding role. If he is unavailable for any reason, standing committee member and Liberation War Affairs Minister Major (retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed would step in to perform the duty. 

The election of the permanent Speaker and Deputy Speaker would then proceed under that person's chairmanship.

Discussions within the BNP center on selecting experienced and politically acceptable figures for the top parliamentary positions. Names frequently mentioned for the Speaker post include Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, and former Chief Whip of the Opposition Zainul Abdin. 

Several whips and party insiders have indicated that the final choices for Speaker and Deputy Speaker remain known only to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman himself, though the selections are likely to draw from those with prior experience in parliamentary proceedings. 

Zainul Abedin's name has gained traction due to his extensive legal background, particularly his expertise in constitutional matters and parliamentary rules.

For the Deputy Speaker position, if Jamaat-e-Islami opts not to claim it, the BNP plans to elect one from among its own MPs on the first day itself, with several names under consideration.

Meanwhile, two BNP-elected candidates—Sarwar Alamgir from Chittagong-2 (Fatikchhari) and Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury from Chittagong-4 (Sitakunda)—are still unable to take their oaths or attend the session. 

Court decisions have suspended their election results amid cases related to loan defaults.

 Although the court has permitted them to vote in certain contexts, their eligibility hinges on the final outcome in the Appellate Division. If proven to be defaulters, they would lose their seats before being sworn in; if cleared, they could join Parliament later.

On Monday, Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Sarkar issued a press release urging all BNP MPs to attend the upcoming parliamentary party meeting.