The Speaker of the 13th National Parliament announced the nomination of panel members who will preside over parliamentary sessions in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. The announcement was made in Parliament on Thursday, confirming that the member listed first will take the Speaker’s chair when both top officials are unavailable. The nominated members include Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed from Dhaka-8, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy from Dhaka-2, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan from Narsingdi-1, Mohammad Monirul Haque Chowdhury from Cumilla-6, and ATM Azharul Islam from Rangpur-2.

According to the announcement, this nomination is part of the regular parliamentary procedure, ensuring that sessions continue smoothly even when the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are absent. The panel members will preside over meetings in rotation as required.

The nomination followed the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and the oath-taking ceremony, marking the formal progression of the first session of the 13th National Parliament.

An Iran-affiliated hacking group named Handala has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on the US medical technology company Stryker. The group announced on Wednesday that it stole 50 terabytes of data as retaliation for a military strike in Iran. According to AFP, Handala said the operation was carried out in response to an attack on Iran’s Minab School that killed at least 150 people and as a counter to ongoing cyberattacks on Tehran-backed groups.

Stryker confirmed that the incident caused a global network disruption in its Microsoft environment but reported no evidence of ransomware or malware, stating that the situation was under control. The group warned Israeli leaders and lobbyists that this marks the beginning of a new chapter in cyber warfare. Handala, named after a Palestinian symbol, has recently claimed attacks on companies in Israel and the Gulf region.

Cyber intelligence experts and reports cited in the source describe Handala as one of the most notorious Iran-linked hacking groups, known for data theft and spreading fear and uncertainty.

BNP Secretary General and Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recited a poem written by poet Al Mahmud about Begum Khaleda Zia in the National Parliament. The recitation took place on Thursday during a discussion on a condolence motion. Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, was presiding as Speaker at the time.

The session marks a continuation of parliamentary proceedings following the political changes that occurred after the 2024 mass uprising, which led to the fall of the Awami League government. The last parliamentary session before that event concluded on July 3, 2024, after the passage of the 2024–25 fiscal year budget. The current session has been adjourned until Sunday.

The event reflects the resumption of parliamentary activities under the new political context, with cultural and commemorative expressions taking place within formal proceedings.

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman has expressed his desire to see the 13th National Parliament become truly meaningful for the country and its people. He made the remarks on Thursday while delivering a congratulatory speech during the first session of the newly formed parliament, which was presided over by newly elected Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

During his address, the Prime Minister pledged full cooperation to the Speaker to ensure the parliament functions effectively. He emphasized that those who have returned to parliament after a long time were elected by the people’s votes, and the government wants to see the legislature operate in a productive and effective manner.

The session was adjourned until Sunday, and five parliamentary committees, including the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee, were formed during the proceedings.

The 13th National Parliament of Bangladesh began its first session under Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, following his election along with Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal. The opening day’s proceedings included the presentation of condolence motions for former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, victims of the July uprising, those killed in the Milestone School and College plane crash, and several other national and international figures. Chief Whip Matiur Rahman Nizami proposed adding the names of Ali Ahsan Mujahid and Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, which the Speaker accepted.

Separate condolence motions were also presented for former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Pope Francis, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The session expressed grief over the deaths of 62 former MPs, former President A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury, and numerous cultural, academic, and civic figures. Another motion honored those killed between 2007 and August 2024 in struggles for democracy and human rights.

The Parliament stated that additional names of distinguished individuals omitted from the list could later be included upon submission to the Secretariat.

Imtiaz Ahmad Masum has been promoted to the position of Executive Director at Bangladesh Bank. The central bank confirmed the promotion on March 4, 2026. Before this appointment, he served as a Director at the institution. Masum began his career at Bangladesh Bank in 1999 as an Assistant Director and has since held various key roles across multiple departments.

Throughout his career, Masum worked in the Vigilance Sub-Division, Foreign Exchange Inspection and Vigilance Department, Financial Integrity and Customer Services Department, Accounts and Budgeting Department, and Sustainable Finance Department. He also served as a Director for the Investment and Finance Facility–II project and the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit. His most recent posting was as Director of the Barishal office of Bangladesh Bank.

Masum holds honors and master’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Dhaka and a professional master’s in Banking and Finance from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. He has participated in international training programs in several countries and received the Bangladesh Bank AML Risking Award (Best Category) in 2021.

The United States has initiated a new trade investigation targeting several major partners, including Bangladesh and India. The move follows a Supreme Court decision last month that struck down a key part of President Donald Trump’s tariff policy. US Trade Representative Jamison Greer said the probe, launched under Section 301, aims to assess unfair trade practices and could lead to new tariffs on countries such as China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico by mid-summer.

The investigation also covers Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Norway, but excludes Canada, the US’s second-largest trading partner. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Trump’s previous global tariffs, imposed last April, were illegal because the president exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The court reaffirmed that only Congress can authorize such extraordinary powers.

Following the ruling, Trump reimposed a 10 percent global tariff and threatened to raise it to 15 percent. The new investigation gives his administration leverage to pressure trade partners ahead of upcoming talks with China in Paris and a possible Trump–Xi meeting in Beijing later this month.

President Md. Sahabuddin administered the oath of office to the newly elected Speaker, Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, on March 12, 2026. The ceremony took place at the President’s office in the Parliament complex. Prime Minister Tareq Rahman and other government representatives were present, while no opposition members of parliament were seen at the event.

Earlier, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, the Member of Parliament from Bhola-3 constituency, was unanimously elected Speaker through a voice vote in the National Parliament. Barrister Kaiser Kamal, representing Netrakona-1, was also unanimously elected as Deputy Speaker. Both positions were filled through consensus among the attending members.

The report also mentioned that five parliamentary committees, including the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee, have been formed, and the current parliamentary session has been adjourned until Sunday.

A major surprise marked the opening of Bangladesh’s new parliamentary session on March 12, 2026, when Barrister Kaiser Kamal was unanimously elected Deputy Speaker. The announcement was made by Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, who was presiding over the session. Kamal, a young first-time Member of Parliament from Netrakona and a Supreme Court lawyer, had been serving as State Minister for Land in the cabinet of Tarique Rahman.

Before Kamal’s election, Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain was proposed to chair the opening session in the absence of the outgoing Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Following his introductory remarks, he announced the name of Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, a six-time MP, who was unanimously chosen as the new Speaker. The proposal for Kamal’s name as Deputy Speaker was then put forward and also approved unanimously.

The session also saw the formation of five parliamentary committees, including the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee, and was adjourned until Sunday.

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.