New York: Toby Ann Stavisky met with members of the Bangladeshi diaspora at a Nabanno Party Iftar gathering in Jackson Heights. The event was organized by the Global Bangladeshi Alliance (GBA), CUDC, and BATC. The meeting was presided over by GBA President Mizanur Rahman, while Administrative Director Ahmed Sohel served as the host of the program.

During the gathering, Senator Stavisky officially announced her candidacy for the upcoming New York State Senate election, with the primary election scheduled for June 21. Addressing the audience, she asked members of the Bangladeshi-American community for their support and cooperation in the upcoming election.

The event was attended by a large number of Bangladeshi community leaders, activists, and journalists from across New York. Many participants expressed their appreciation for the senator’s continued engagement with the Bangladeshi community and assured her of their support in the upcoming election.

Senator Stavisky thanked the community for their warm reception and recognized the important role Bangladeshi-Americans play in the social, cultural, and political life of New York.

DHAKA – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to inaugurate a programme for providing monthly honorarium to religious leaders of different religions tomorrow. The inauguration ceremony will be held at 10:00am at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, according to an official release of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Under the programme, monthly honorariums will be provided to imams, muezzins and khadems of mosques, priests and sebaits of temples, principals and vice-principals of Buddhist monasteries, and priests and assistant priests of churches. The Prime Minister will formally launch the initiative at the ceremony.

DHAKA  – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today visited his political adviser and BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the city.

“The premier reached the hospital at 2:20 pm. He spent some time beside Mirza Abbas’s bed and inquired about his overall health condition,” Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told BSS this afternoon.

During the visit, he said, the Prime Minister instructed the concerned authorities to take swift measures for Mirza Abbas’s treatment in Singapore. Afroza Abbas, wife of Mirza Abbas and President of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, and concerned physicians were present during the visit.

Earlier in the day, the BNP said that an air ambulance from Evercare Hospital would carry Mirza Abbas to Singapore at 6:00 pm today for advanced treatment. He is expected to be admitted to the Department of Neuroscience at the National University Hospital in Singapore.

Mirza Abbas fell ill suddenly on Wednesday evening while drinking water during iftar and lost consciousness. As his condition did not improve, he was admitted to Evercare Hospital late that night. Afroza Abbas sought prayers from the people of the country for her husband’s speedy recovery.

DHAKA – Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood has arrived in Tokyo to participate in the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum being held on March 14-15.

The forum is jointly hosted by the chair and vice chair of the US National Energy Dominance Council, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa Ryosei.

Energy ministers and senior representatives from several Indo-Pacific countries including Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam are also attending the two-day forum.

During the meeting, participating ministers will discuss ways to strengthen energy security across the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on ensuring the supply of abundant, reliable, affordable, secure and dispatchable energy.

On the sidelines of the forum, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood is expected to hold bilateral meetings with ministers and other delegations from participating countries, including the United States, Japan and Brunei. He is also scheduled to meet representatives of private sector companies to explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation with Bangladesh in the energy sector and related sectors.

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran has been “totally defeated” in the US-Israeli military campaign against the country and wanted a deal he would not accept, despite Iranian officials pledging to continue the fight.

“The Fake News Media hates to report how well the United States Military has done against Iran, which is totally defeated and wants a deal – But not a deal that I would accept!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, without elaborating.

Trump’s comments came after he said that Washington had heavily bombed military targets on Iran’s oil hub Kharg Island and the US Navy would soon begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

But as the US strikes on Iran persisted, Tehran launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Israel and its Gulf neighbours.

Meanwhile, several top Iranian officials joined a defiant pro-government rally in Tehran on Friday, marching alongside demonstrators waving banners reading “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

Iran’s top diplomat said this week that talks remain off the table and attacks would continue for as long as necessary.

“I don’t think talking with the Americans would be on our agenda anymore,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told PBS News this week, adding Tehran had a “very bitter experience” during previous negotiations with the US.

SANGSAD BHABAN – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said that a people-accountable and truly representative parliament elected by the people has begun its journey again in the country through the tears of countless victims of fascism and the sacrifice of thousands of lives. “At this historic moment of Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad, I would like to express gratitude to the Almighty Allah, by whose infinite mercy, we have been able to begin our journey towards building a just, democratic and humane Bangladesh,” he said.

Tarique Rahman, also the Leader of the House, made the remarks in his welcome speech while he was proposing the name of BNP’s senior leader and lawmaker from Cumilla-2 constituency Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain to preside over the House temporarily for the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker by the Members of Parliament. In his speech, he paid tribute to all those who had been martyred in the struggle for democracy and rights, from the War of Independence in 1971 to the struggle to protect the country and its people in 2024.

At the beginning of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, the premier also recalled with gratitude those who lost their children, near and dear ones and relatives, those injured people who had to loss their comfortable lives in the movement for democracy and human rights as well as those who lost everything due to torture, political harassment or false cases during the fascism.

In this connection, he mentioned the people from all walks of life—including students, farmers, workers, teachers, poets, writers, journalists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, craftsmen, fishermen, weavers, drivers, businesspeople, government and private employees, homemakers and leaders, activists and supporters of democratic political parties across the country —who endured repression, abduction, killings, torture and harassment.

The Prime Minister said even brutal detention centres described as “Ayna Ghar,” enforced disappearances and various forms of repression could not suppress their democratic aspirations. He said it was the courageous role of the people—especially the students and masses—that restored democracy in the country. At the start of the 13th Parliament’s journey, Tarique Rahman congratulated the democracy-loving and freedom-loving people of the country, particularly the students and the people who played a leading role to this end.

Addressing the lawmakers, the Prime Minister said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had established parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh and institutionalized the system to ensure people’s rights. Tarique Rahman, also BNP chairman, said but that democratic system was later turned into a mockery and the Jatiya Sangsad had been reduced to a subject of ridicule by establishing an authoritarian regime and exploitation in the country.

Noting that Begum Khaleda Zia fought until the last day of her life to restore parliamentary democracy and people’s rights, Tarique Rahman said but she (Khaleda Zia) never compromised with autocracy or fascism.

“That long-cherished parliamentary democracy began its journey once again in the country today, Alhamdulillah,” the Leader of the House said.

“The founder of parliamentary politics, Khaleda Zia, could not witness this auspicious moment in the success of the country and the people. Therefore, standing in this House, we remember with deep respect the late Khaleda Zia, an uncompromising leadership to protect the country and its people as well as a memorable, distinguished and exemplary political figure,” he said.

Citing a quote from Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman“If the people themselves become a political party, then I belong to that party”, he said this statement reflects that the interest of the people must come before the interests of individuals or parties, which is the core philosophy of BNP’s politics.

Stating that he has been elected as a member of parliament (MP) from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the first time and has also chosen as the parliamentary party leader, he said, “Although I represent (my) party in the Jatiya Sangsad, as the Prime Minister, I represent the entire country in this House”.

The premier stressed that his politics is about protecting the interests of the country and its people. “BNP’s politics is about improving people’s living standards and building a self-reliant Bangladesh. The goal of our politics is to make every family self-reliant,” he added.

SANGSAD BHABAN – Senior parliamentarian Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, who chaired the first sitting of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad today, called upon the members of parliament to work together to strengthen the country’s democratic system, ensure transparency and uphold accountability in the country. Addressing the inaugural session, Mosharraf welcomed and congratulated the newly elected members of parliament, saying the new parliament marks a significant moment in the country’s democratic journey following the national election on February 12, 2026. He said the lawmakers have come to the parliament with the people’s mandate and bear a great responsibility to serve the nation.

“The active and responsible participation of all members will help make the renewed journey of democracy much more dynamic and prosperous,” he said. In this connection, he put emphasis on collective efforts to meet public expectations and establish good governance. Mosharraf, also a former Minister, expressed gratitude to the lawmakers for giving him the opportunity to preside over the historic first sitting of the 13th parliament.

At the beginning of his speech, he paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War, the language movement activists, and those who sacrificed their lives in the long struggle for democracy. He also remembered those who were killed or injured in the July mass uprising, saying their sacrifices remind the nation that safeguarding freedom requires continuous commitment. Describing the recent national election as a ‘milestone’ for restoring democracy, Mosharraf said citizens were able to exercise their voting rights freely after many years.

He congratulated the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for forming the government for the fourth time and extended his greetings to Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman.

He also congratulated Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for assuming the role of the opposition in parliament for the first time. During his remarks, Mosharraf paid rich tribute to BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, describing him as the proclaimer of independence and a key figure in establishing multi-party democracy in Bangladesh.

He also remembered former three-time prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, praising her role in restoring the parliamentary system in the country and continuing the struggle for democracy despite political challenges and imprisonment.

Mosharraf said the new parliament should work towards building a humane, inclusive and accountable state by ensuring justice for alleged human rights violations, strengthening judicial independence and preserving an impartial history of the Liberation War. Expressing optimism, he said the 13th parliament would play a constructive role in rebuilding state institutions and advancing the country through cooperation and mutual respect.

“The journey of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad begins today. Learning from the past, we will move Bangladesh forward on the path of development and progress,” he said.

SANGSAD BHABAN – The 13th Parliament has begun its journey with the beginning of its first session today, just a month after the February 12 general election, amid huge public expectations for a vibrant and effective Jatiya Sangsad. The maiden session of the newly formed parliament started at 11:05 am today with the introductory remarks from Secretary of Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat Kaniz Moula followed by recitation from the holy Quran and a welcome speech from Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

However, unlike in the past, the first session of the new parliament began with the Speaker’s chair vacant as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker (of the previous 12th parliament) are currently unavailable. At the outset of the session, Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in his welcome speech nominated senior BNP leader and Cumilla-2 constituency lawmaker Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain to preside over the House temporarily for the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker by the Members of Parliament.

Later, the party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir seconded the proposal which was also endorsed by the opposition Jamaat-e Islami lawmaker MA Taher. Following their elections, the sitting is likely to be adjourned briefly to allow the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker to take oath, which will be administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

Then the sitting will resume with the newly elected Speaker or Deputy Speaker in the chair. During the first-day sitting of the session, the panel of chairmen for the first session will be announced.

A condolence motion will be placed and discussed, expressing profound grief at the death of three-time prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, former MPs and other noted personalities. The Law Minister is expected to place some 133 ordinances in the House (seeking endorsement of parliament) and several parliamentary committees such as the business advisory committee of parliament will be formed.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin will deliver his speech in the House later in the day. The maiden session is most likely to be adjourned after another sitting on March 15 (Sunday next) before the Holy Eid-ul Fitr holidays. Earlier on yesterday, a meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party chaired by Tarique Rahman was held at the ruling party’s meeting room at Sangsad Bhaban. Following the meeting, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said the ruling party wants the 13th parliament to be effective and vibrant where problems will be resolved through discussion and debate.

“Our goal is to run an effective, vibrant and responsible parliament. We want an environment of constructive discussion, rational argument and healthy debate on national issues in parliament,” he said at a press briefing. He said a member nominated by the Prime Minister will temporarily preside over the House.

The Chief Whip said the BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) on Wednesday authorised the Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman to decide the candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 13th Parliament.

“We have entrusted the Leader of the House with the responsibility of deciding the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. He will take the decision, and we will know it tomorrow,” he said. He said the proceedings of today’s sitting will begin with the Speaker’s chair vacant. The session will start with recitation from the Holy Quran, he added.

After that, the Leader of the House will propose the name of a senior MP to preside over the sitting temporarily, which will be seconded by another MP. The nominated member will then preside over the session, said the Chief Whip.

Usually the first session of a new parliament begins with the Speaker of the previous parliament in chair and then the election of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker is held. Nurul Islam also said 133 ordinances promulgated during the tenure of the interim government will be placed before parliament on Thursday. Replying to a question, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister showed “great generosity” by offering the post of Deputy Speaker to the opposition.

“But we have not received any positive response from them so far. If we do, necessary steps will be taken accordingly,” he said. On February 23 last, President Mohammed Shahabuddin summoned the first session of the new parliament under the powers conferred by Article 72(1) of the Constitution. This session is both the inaugural sitting of the 13th Parliament and the first parliamentary session of 2026.

The parliamentary elections were held on February 12 last, with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) winning it with two-thirds majority. The 13th parliamentary election was held in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies on February 12 as the election to Sherpur-3 constituency was postponed following the death of a candidate. The Election Commission of Bangladesh published the gazette notification on February 13, declaring results for 297 seats.

In the 297 constituencies, BNP won in 209 parliamentary seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami in 68, NCP settled victory in six constituencies, independent candidates in seven constituencies, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish in two, Islami Andolan Bangladesh in one, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho) in one, Ganaodhikar Parishad in one, Ganasamhati Andolan in one and Khelafat Majlish in one parliamentary seat.

Later, the newly elected MPs were sworn in on February 17 and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath. BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, who was elected from two constituencies, took oath as MP from Dhaka-17 constituency, leaving Bogura-6 constituency for by-election. According to Article 72(1) of the Constitution, Parliament must be summoned to meet within 30 days after the declaration of the results of polling at any general election.

The same article also states that unless sooner dissolved by the President, Parliament shall stand dissolved on the expiration of five years from the date of its first meeting. So, the five-year tenure of the 13th Parliament will officially commence with its first sitting on March 12.

SNAGSAD BHABAN – President Mohammed Shahabuddin today administered the oath to the newly elected speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, of Bhola-3 Constituency. Newly elected Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed was a six-term lawmaker, previously served as the Liberation War Affairs Minister from which he resigned before taking this position.

At the beginning of a new parliamentary session, the oath-taking ceremony was typically held at the office room of the President at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at about noon. Subsequently, the President also administered the oath to Barrister Kaiser Kamal, a lawmaker from Netrokona-1 constituency (Kalamkanda-Durgapur) as the Deputy Speaker of the 13th parliament.

Earlier, he had been serving as the state minister for the Ministry of Land and was elected from in the 13th national parliamentary election as a candidate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with his some senior cabinet colleagues and secretaries concerned were present on the occasion. Later, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker also signed their respective oath the office and secrecy as well.

DHAKA – Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said most of the ordinances issued by the interim government are likely to be accepted, though several will require discussion and possible amendments in parliament, including the Human Rights Commission Ordinance. He made the remarks while speaking at a dialogue titled “Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2025: Expectations for the New Parliament”, organized by Citizen Platform Bangladesh for Implementation of SDGs.

In his speech, the minister warned against imposing decisions coercively, saying such actions never bring good results for the nation. He emphasized the importance of consensus among political parties and stakeholders from different sectors of the society. Referring to discussions held within the National Commission, he said several issues had been examined considering the social realities of Bangladesh.

Some proposals were deemed immediately implementable, while others were suggested to be tested through a trial-and-error process before broader application, he said. The minister noted that the National Human Rights Commission issue had been discussed extensively in the commission. He acknowledged that the country had witnessed serious human rights violations in the past, particularly under the previous regime, and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting human rights and fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution.

“These commitments are reflected in our manifesto and in our 31-point agenda,” he said. The Home Minister said that although many ordinances could be accepted largely in their current form, some would require amendments before being passed as laws. Those amendments would be introduced through bills in parliament, he said.

He also highlighted procedural challenges in approving ordinances within the constitutional timeframe. According to parliamentary rules, ordinances must be approved within 30 working days of the start of a parliamentary session, he said. With the first session of the new parliament scheduled to begin on March 12 and several public holidays and breaks in between—including Genocide Day on March 25 and Independence Day on March 26—the time available for legislative work will be limited.

The minister said the Ministry of Home Affairs alone has seven ordinances among the total issued, some of which may be approved without major changes while others, including those related to human rights and security matters, will require more extensive discussion.

He explained that proposed laws must go through the parliamentary process, including first, second, and third readings, and may also be referred to a special committee for detailed examination.

“Within these 30 days it will be difficult to pass every ordinance, but we will try to retain most of them,” he said, adding that those ones that cannot be passed in time may lapse but can later be reintroduced as bills in future parliamentary sessions. The minister concluded by stressing that the government remains committed to strengthening the legal framework for human rights protection and ensuring that relevant laws are enacted through proper parliamentary debate and consensus.