Mohiuddin Alamgir

Eminent rights activists have criticised the parliamentary special committee’s recommendation to drop key ordinances issued by the interim government, noting that most of them are tied to crucial reforms.

Bangladesh’s political journey has repeatedly swung between hope and disappointment. The question now is whether the country is about to witness yet another repeat of that cycle.

A special parliamentary committee, reviewing ordinances issued by the interim government, yesterday recommended that 20 of them lapse or expire, including those aimed at ensuring judicial independence, curbing enforced disappearances, and strengthening the anti-corruption and human rights commissions.

What American diplomats and doctors saw in Dhaka after Operation Searchlight

It is rare for a government decision in Bangladesh to move at lightning speed -- raised in parliament one day and implemented the very next.

The 13th parliament yesterday held its inaugural sitting amid a heated atmosphere, as opposition MPs staged a walkout in protest against President Mohammed Shahabuddin speaking in the House.

Though the BNP won the February 12 national polls decisively, the main opposition Jamaat-e-Islami performed stronger in postal ballots.

After decades of boycotts and hollow debate, expectations are high for genuine lawmaking and accountability

The 13th parliament begins its journey today amid hopes that the new House will emerge as the living centre of democratic practice, alive with constructive debate, meaningful decision-making, and a strong role in holding the government accountable.

In a scene never witnessed before in Bangladesh’s parliamentary history, the maiden sitting of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad is likely to begin today with the speaker’s chair vacant for a brief period.

An unprecedented number of ballots was rejected in the February 12 national polls.

Bangladesh bristled with anticipation, convinced that a defining moment was approaching.

The voting rate in constituencies across the 12 city corporation areas was significantly lower than in rural areas.

Once rooted largely in rural heartlands, the party has now made visible inroads into urban constituencies, drawing support from affluent and educated voters.

Bangladesh has always had a rocky democracy

The arduous struggle for the restoration of democracy reaches its final step this afternoon, as an elected government prepares to take oath following the swearing‑in of newly elected lawmakers this morning.

The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami recorded significant gains in vote share and seats compared to 1991, each rising by nearly 20 percentage points.

The new parliament will feature a significant number of new faces, with first‑time lawmakers set to take up the roles of both the leader of the House and the opposition leader for the first time in the country’s history.

The 13th national election will be remembered as the one when voters reclaimed their franchise.

The “Yes” vote in Thursday’s referendum received comparatively lower support than in the previous three plebiscites.