In a significant political development, the Bangladesh Parliament has officially elected Hafiz Uddin Ahmed as the new Speaker and Barrister Kayser Kamal as the Deputy Speaker.

Following the elections, the parliamentary session was briefly adjourned. The newly elected leaders subsequently took their oaths of office, which were administered by President Mohammad Shahabuddin.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed: A Veteran Lawmaker Takes the Helm

Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed brings decades of political experience to his new role as Speaker. Prior to this pivotal appointment, he served as the Liberation War Affairs Minister. He officially resigned from that post on March 11 to assume his new responsibilities, as confirmed by his assistant private secretary.

A distinguished six-term lawmaker, Ahmed’s parliamentary journey is extensive:

• Early Career: He was first elected to parliament in 1986 from the Bhola constituency under the Jatiya Party banner and secured re-election in 1988.

• Independent Success: He later won his seat in the fifth parliamentary election as an independent candidate.

• BNP Tenure: After joining the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), he achieved three consecutive parliamentary victories, serving up through the eighth parliament in 2001.

Beyond his time as an MP, Ahmed has held critical cabinet positions during the previous BNP-led government, serving as the Minister of Water Resources and later as the Commerce Minister. In 2024, the retired army major further solidified his leadership role by becoming a member of the BNP standing committee.

Barrister Kayser Kamal: First-Time MP Steps Up as Deputy Speaker

Barrister Kayser Kamal steps into the role of Deputy Speaker with fresh momentum. Before his elevation to this position, he served as the State Minister for the Ministry of Land, resigning just ahead of his new parliamentary appointment.

Kamal was elected to represent the Netrokona-1 (Kalamkanda-Durgapur) constituency during the 13th National Parliamentary Election as a candidate for the BNP. Notably, he is currently serving his very first term as a Member of Parliament, marking a rapid and prominent ascent in his legislative career.