Prime Minister inaugurates training workshop for MPs

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday morning inaugurated a training workshop at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) organised the workshop for its lawmakers ahead of the first session of the 13th National Parliament, said the prime minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and AZM Zahid Hossain, among other senior leaders, were present at the event. Tarique Rahman delivered the welcome speech, while his daughter Jaima Rahman also attended the programme.

Party insiders said the workshop would cover parliamentary rules of business and other key issues, including the code of conduct, bill drafting and review, analysis of budget documents, and the functioning of parliamentary committees. Experienced lawmakers are expected to share their insights with newly elected MPs.

According to BNP leaders, the aim of the workshop is to improve the effectiveness of both the government and the ruling party in parliament.

The first session of the 13th Parliament is scheduled to begin at 11:00am on March 12. President Md Shahabuddin convened the session on February 23.

Keeping the upcoming session in view, the BNP arranged the workshop to prepare its MPs. Parliamentary experts, academics and senior lawmakers will discuss the responsibilities and roles of MPs and cabinet members in making parliament more effective. Ministers, state ministers and advisers attended the morning session on the first day of the two-day programme.

In the 13th parliamentary elections, the BNP secured 209 seats, with 146 lawmakers entering parliament for the first time. Many of them lack prior experience with parliamentary procedures and rules.

A senior BNP leader said the workshop would also provide guidance on raising points of order, drafting and reviewing bills, participating in debates, highlighting constituency issues, contributing to discussions on the President’s address, and ensuring regular attendance in parliament.