The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began on Thursday at 11 a.m., presided over by Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. During the session, Major Hafiz (Retd.) Bir Bikram was elected Speaker and Barrister Kaiser Kamal was chosen as Deputy Speaker. Prime Minister Tareq Rahman addressed the session, which was attended by both ruling and opposition lawmakers. In the visitors’ gallery, former interim government chief adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman, Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s wife Zubaida Rahman, and daughter Jaima Rahman were present, along with the chiefs of the Navy and Air Force. The session also saw attendance from the President, foreign diplomats, and leaders of various political parties. The 13th parliamentary session follows the February 12, 2026 election, held about one and a half years after the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024 and the formation of an interim government led by Dr. Yunus. The new members of parliament took oath on February 17, and the session was convened within the constitutional 30-day period after election results were gazetted.

At least seven people were killed and 21 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s central coastal area early Thursday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The attack targeted the Ramlet al-Baida district, with local media footage showing smoke rising from the shoreline. The National News Agency reported that a car was struck during the assault. The Israeli military confirmed conducting overnight operations against Hezbollah in Beirut’s southern suburbs, saying it hit ten Hezbollah targets. This marks the third strike in central Beirut since the start of the Middle East conflict. The National News Agency also reported Israeli attacks on several southern Lebanese towns, including Taybeh, Al-Sultaniyah, and areas near Tyre. In response, Hezbollah announced that it had launched a missile strike on an Israeli military intelligence base near Tel Aviv early Thursday, signaling continued escalation between the two sides.

The parliamentary session resumed shortly after the noon prayer break on March 12, 2026, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin addressing lawmakers. He emphasized that the people of Bangladesh are vigilant guardians of democracy and described the Parliament as a symbol of that democratic spirit. The Speaker recalled past struggles against autocratic regimes and paid tribute to those who were martyred in the July uprising that ended fascist rule. He noted that citizens eagerly follow parliamentary proceedings and expressed hope that both the government and the opposition would work together in the national interest. During his remarks, the Speaker mentioned that a member had resigned from the BNP Standing Committee to uphold neutrality. Concluding his address, he called for adopting “Bangladesh first” as the nation’s guiding motto. The session also saw the formation of five parliamentary committees, including the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee, and was adjourned until Sunday.

Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, MP for Bhola-3, has been elected Speaker of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament, while Barrister Kaiser Kamal, MP for Netrokona-1, has been chosen as Deputy Speaker. Both were elected unanimously through a voice vote during the first session of the new parliament held under the chairmanship of Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, a senior BNP leader and member of the party’s standing committee. Chief Whip Nurul Islam proposed Hafiz Uddin’s name for Speaker, supported by MP Rokibul Islam of Khulna-3. Government Whip Ruhul Quddus Talukder proposed Kaiser Kamal for Deputy Speaker, seconded by Whip Ashraf Uddin Nizan. Before his election, Hafiz Uddin resigned from his post as Minister for Liberation War Affairs. Following the election, the parliamentary session was adjourned for half an hour for the oath-taking ceremony. The session began under an exceptional arrangement since the previous Speaker, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, resigned in September 2024, and former Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque (Tuku) is in custody. The parliament leader, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, nominated Dr. Mosharraf Hossain to preside over the opening session, a proposal supported by senior ministers and opposition leaders.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, former chief adviser of the interim government, attended the first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament, which began at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The session was convened by President Md. Shahabuddin in accordance with the constitutional requirement to hold a parliamentary meeting within 30 days of the election results. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12, 2026, under the interim government, about one and a half years after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, following a student and public uprising. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed the new government with a two-thirds majority, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats to become the main opposition. The Awami League, which was banned from political activities, did not participate in the election and therefore has no representation in the new parliament. The first session marks the beginning of legislative activities under the new political arrangement following the transition from the interim administration.

Barrister Kaiser Kamal has been elected Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The first session of the new parliament began on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 11 a.m., presided over by BNP Standing Committee member Mosharraf Hossain. Earlier, Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram was elected Speaker. The nomination of Kaiser Kamal was proposed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, supported by Mirza Fakhrul Islam, and seconded by Abdullah Md. Taher on behalf of the opposition leader. The 13th parliamentary session follows significant political changes in Bangladesh. The previous 12th Parliament was dissolved after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, following a student and public uprising. The 13th general election was held on February 12, 2026, under an interim government, resulting in a two-thirds majority for the BNP, which formed the new government. The Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats and became the main opposition, while the banned Awami League has no representation in the current parliament. According to the constitution, the first parliamentary session must be convened within 30 days of the election results, and President Md. Shahabuddin called the session accordingly on March 12.

The first session of Bangladesh’s new parliament faced a temporary disruption on Thursday when a technical fault in the main sound system caused a microphone failure. The session, which began shortly after 11 a.m., was suspended for 20 minutes before resuming. Senior BNP lawmaker Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain initially presided, during which Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Kaiser Kamal were elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively. President Md. Shahabuddin administered their oaths during the break. When the session resumed around 12:45 p.m., Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed encountered sound issues while addressing the chamber and switched to a handheld microphone. He thanked members for electing him unopposed and urged patience as technicians worked to fix the problem. Officials from the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Parliament Secretariat were seen consulting with the Speaker during the disruption. After the noon prayer call, the Speaker announced a 20-minute recess. The session restarted at 1:30 p.m., with the Speaker confirming that the malfunction had been resolved and delivering his remarks again from the beginning.

A Thai-flagged cargo ship named Mayuri Naree was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz while en route to Gujarat, India, leaving three crew members missing. According to Precious Shipping, the vessel came under attack from Iran, and the missing crew are believed to be trapped in the engine room. The incident occurred on Wednesday and resulted in a fire on board after the ship was hit by an unidentified projectile. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the ship had ignored prior warnings. Following the strike, the Omani navy conducted a rapid rescue operation, successfully evacuating 20 sailors from the vessel, though three remain unaccounted for. The attack adds to a series of recent maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, where several other ships have reportedly been targeted, raising renewed concerns over regional maritime security.

Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has been elected Speaker of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The first session of the new parliament began at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, presided over initially by BNP Standing Committee member Mosharraf Hossain. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed Hafiz Uddin Ahmed’s name, which was supported by Mirza Fakhrul Islam and opposition representative Abdullah Md. Taher. The 13th parliamentary session follows the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, after a student and public uprising. The 12th Parliament was subsequently dissolved, and elections for the 13th Parliament were held on February 12, 2026, under an interim government. The BNP formed the government with a two-thirds majority, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats as the main opposition. The Awami League, whose activities remain banned, has no representation in the current parliament. According to the constitution, the first parliamentary session must be convened within 30 days of election results. President Md. Shahabuddin called the session in compliance with this requirement.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began on Thursday at 11 a.m., with President Md. Shahabuddin scheduled to address the session at 2 p.m. According to the Parliament Secretariat, his speech is expected to last about 40 minutes. The session was convened in accordance with the constitutional requirement to call Parliament within 30 days of the election results being announced. The 13th Parliament convened roughly one month after the election results were declared. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed the government with a two-thirds majority, securing 209 seats. Its main rival was an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. In the election, Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured six. A total of 50 registered political parties participated in the election, and nine of them are represented in Parliament. Among the smaller parties, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish has two members, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh, BJP, Ganosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and Khelafat Majlish each have one. There are also seven independent members.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman delivered his first address at the inaugural session of the 13th National Parliament on March 12, 2026. In his speech, he paid tribute to all martyrs from the 1971 liberation struggle to the present and remembered his late mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He stated that Khaleda Zia fought for democracy until her last day and never compromised with autocracy or fascism. He also expressed respect for the late President Ziaur Rahman. The Prime Minister emphasized that he represents the people of Bangladesh beyond party lines and declared that making every family self-reliant is the goal of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He called for collective cooperation to achieve this objective and asserted that there should be no disagreement in building a self-reliant nation. The parliamentary session also saw the formation of five committees, including the parliamentary advisory committee, and was adjourned until Sunday.

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a series of overnight attacks targeting several Israeli military bases and cities. According to the group, drone strikes were carried out on the Yara barracks in northern Israel, while missile attacks targeted the Beit Lid base, the Glilot base near Tel Aviv, and the Atlit base near Haifa. Hezbollah also said it launched artillery fire at Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon and fired drones and rockets toward the coastal city of Nahariya. The group further claimed that a radar installation at the Marine Air Operations Command and Control base was damaged during one of the drone strikes conducted on Wednesday. The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not include any confirmation or response from Israeli authorities regarding the alleged attacks. The extent of the damage or casualties resulting from these claimed operations remains unclear, as no independent verification was provided in the source report.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 11 a.m., chaired by BNP Standing Committee member Mosharraf Hossain. The session commenced after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed his name, which was supported by Mirza Fakhrul Islam and opposition leader representative Abdullah Md. Taher. President Md. Shahabuddin convened the session in accordance with the constitutional requirement to hold a parliamentary meeting within 30 days of the election results. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12, 2026, under an interim government, about one and a half years after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, following a student and public uprising. The BNP formed the government with a two-thirds majority, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats and became the main opposition. The Awami League, which was banned from political activities, did not participate in the election and has no representation in the new parliament. The session marks the formal beginning of legislative activities under the new BNP-led government following the political transition.

Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began its proceedings on March 12, 2026, marking a historic session with several unprecedented features. The parliament was formed following the February 12 national election, held 18 months after the July uprising that toppled the Awami League government. For the first time in the country’s history, the Awami League did not participate in the election and has no representation in the new parliament. A total of 296 members have taken oath, with 227 serving as first-time lawmakers, while elections in three constituencies remain pending due to death, legal issues, and a by-election. Analysts note that most members lack practical experience in parliamentary procedures, lawmaking, and committee operations. The article explains key parliamentary terms such as quorum, bill, point of order, floor crossing, walkout, and expunge to help both new lawmakers and citizens understand legislative processes. It also highlights the absence of a sitting Speaker, as the previous Speaker resigned after the fall of the former government. According to the Chief Whip, the first session will be chaired by a person nominated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman until the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported on Wednesday that the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector is losing at least $600 million per day due to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The council attributed the losses to disrupted air travel, declining tourist confidence, and broken regional connectivity, which have sharply reduced demand across the region. According to the WTTC statement, the Middle East accounts for 5 percent of global tourism and 14 percent of international transit traffic. Major airports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain typically handle around 526,000 passengers daily, but have faced nearly two weeks of paralysis and disorder. This disruption has also affected global air travel, driving up ticket prices on many routes. The council noted that the region had projected $207 billion in revenue from international tourists in 2026. It warned that any interruption in travel flows can quickly and severely impact the tourism ecosystem.