Dhaka: The 13th Parliament is set to hold its inaugural session on March 12, exactly one month after the general election held on February 12. President Mohammed Shahabuddin has called for the session to begin at 11:00 am in the Parliament chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the President summoned this session by exercising the authority granted under Article 72(1) of the Constitution. This session will not only be the first for the newly formed 13th Parliament but will also mark the opening parliamentary session of 2026. The recently conducted parliamentary elections, which were the first since the significant uprising in 2024, saw the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) securing a two-thirds majority.
On February 12, voting took place across 299 constituencies. The Election Commission of Bangladesh released a gazette notification on February 13, announcing the results for 297 seats. Out of these, BNP emerged victorious in 209 seats, Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, the NCP secured six, independent candidates claimed seven, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish won two, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho), Ganaodhikar Parishad, Ganasamhati Andolan, and Khelafat Majlish each won one seat.
Following the elections, the newly elected Members of Parliament were sworn in on February 17, with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administering the oath. BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, who secured victories in two constituencies, took his oath as an MP from the Dhaka-17 constituency, leaving the Bogura-6 seat open for a by-election.
In compliance with Article 72(1) of the Constitution, Parliament must convene within 30 days following the declaration of election results. This article also specifies that, unless dissolved earlier by the President, Parliament will automatically dissolve after five years from its first meeting. Consequently, the five-year term of the 13th Parliament will officially begin with its first session on March 12.