<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>The maiden session of the 12th Parliament began at 3pm on Tuesday with Deputy Speaker Shamshul Huq Tuku in the chair.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin convened the first parliament session of 2024 exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 72 (1) of the Constitution.</div><div><br></div><div>The current parliament was formed through January 7 national election.</div><div><br></div><div>Out of 299 seats in the 12th parliamentary election, Awami League won 223, Jatiya Party 11, Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), and Bangladesh Kalyan Party one each, and independent candidates 62 seats. Fifty eight of the victorious independent candidates were ruling party leaders.</div><div><br></div><div>At the beginning of the sitting, the speaker and the deputy speaker of the House were elected by the MPs and were sworn in by the president.</div><div><br></div><div>Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was elected as speaker when Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader proposed her name and Chief Whip Nur E Alam Chowdhury seconded the name.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Speaker Shamsul Huq Tuku said as there was only one name proposed for the post, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will be elected as unopposed.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the session was adjourned for 20 minutes and the speaker went to President’s chamber in Parliament for taking oath.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin Administered the oath. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>