Parliament Adopts Condolence Motion Over Nepal Floods, Pledges Support
The third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad began by recalling the spirit of the August mass uprising that marked the victory of students and the public, as well as the assumption of office by the new president. The House paid deep tribute to all martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the July mass uprising and the Liberation War. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad described the 2026 presidential election, held after a 35-year gap since 1991, as a unique and significant event in the country’s democratic journey.
The session began at 3pm on Thursday (August 27), chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said the August 2024 mass uprising ended authoritarian and fascist rule. He urged MPs to play a responsible role in building a democratic, strong and humane state in honour of the martyrs’ sacrifices. He congratulated newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on behalf of Parliament and himself, expressing hope that the dignity and mutual cooperation of constitutional institutions would be strengthened under his leadership. He also urged MPs to give the national interest the highest priority, rising above partisan considerations.
Under Rule 12(1) of the Rules of Procedure, the speaker announced a five-member panel of chairpersons for the session: Gayeshwar Chandra Roy (Dhaka-3), Jamal Nizam (Chattogram-13), Muhammad Naushad Zamir (Panchagarh-1), Nilufar Chowdhury Moni (Women’s Seat-10) and Md Mujibur Rahman (Rajshahi-1). In the absence of the speaker and deputy speaker, they will preside over the session in the stated order.
The speaker then moved a condolence motion over the death of former acting president, speaker and minister Barrister Mohammad Jamir Uddin Sarkar on July 12. The House also mourned the deaths of 12 former MPs, including former minister and Liberation War veteran Satish Chandra Roy, Major General (retd) Mohammad Jahan Chowdhury, and former chief whip and state minister Mosharraf Hossain. It also expressed grief over the deaths of Ekushey Padak-winning poet Al Mujahidi, artist Mustafa Monwar, political thinker and researcher Professor Abul Quasem Fazlul Haque, and educationist Dr Mokbul Hossain. Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman urged the inclusion of former MPs Abu Sadek Mohammad Abu Saeed and Maulana Abdul Aziz, whose names were missing from the motion.
Speaking on a point of order, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni requested that the name of former state minister Fazlur Rahman of Natore also be included. He also called for a condolence and sympathy motion on behalf of Parliament over the loss of lives and damage caused by the recent flash floods and landslides in Nepal.
The chief whip said the prime minister had already instructed the Bangladesh Army and the Foreign Ministry to prepare to send rescue and medical teams to assist Nepal, a friendly country, in dealing with the disaster.
The condolence motions were unanimously adopted. The House observed a one-minute silence in memory of all the deceased and expressed solidarity with those affected by the disaster in Nepal. After the silence, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad led a prayer seeking forgiveness and peace for the departed souls.
