Bangladesh parliament meets after uprising and elections usher in new government | Politics News

Newly elected Prime Minister Rahman has blamed Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party for undermining the previous parliament.

Bangladesh’s parliament met for the first time since a deadly uprising in 2024 plunged the country into political turmoil and triggered historic elections last month.

“After more than a decade and a half of fascist and servile rule, the activities of parliament begin today with representatives elected by the people,” newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told parliament on Thursday.

Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and son of the late leader Khaleda Zia, took over after the February 12 elections the interim administration that had led the country of 170 million inhabitants since August 2024.

“The BNP wants to build a prosperous, safe and democratic country,” said the party leader, calling on all politicians, whatever their political opinions, to work together.

Rahman blamed the ousted government of Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia for the crackdown that killed hundreds of people, and her Awami League party, for undermining the previous parliament.

According to the United Nations, some 1,400 people were killed and more than 20,000 injured in the uprising.

Hasina, 78, is currently in self-imposed exile in India.

“The fallen dictatorship made parliament dysfunctional, instead of making it the center of all national activities,” Rahman said, promising that would change under his leadership.

“We will make parliament the center of all debates and discussions aimed at solving the country’s problems.”

Those pressing issues include addressing a sluggish economy, restoring stability and reviving growth after months of turmoil that shook investor confidence and strained state finances.

The world’s second largest clothing exporter, highly dependent on fossil fuel imports, has also been greatly affected by the increase in oil prices caused by the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Bangladesh closed universities and implemented fuel rationing amid a worsening energy crisis linked to the fallout from the Middle East conflict and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks across the region.

Rahman’s call for unity is an attempt to heal divisions in a country polarized by years of bitter rivalry.

A new president, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, and his deputy, Kayser Kamal, were elected to office. They are both members of the BNP.

The parliament building was looted during the August 2024 uprising against Hasina, but has since been repaired.

The BNP-led alliance won 212 seats, while the BNP alone won 209 seats in the 350-seat parliament.

The opposition leader is Shafiqur Rahman, who leads the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance with 76 seats, of which Jamaat alone has 68.