BNP lawmaker and PM’s Political Adviser Mirza Abbas, who had been undergoing treatment abroad, returned to the parliament today and, in his maiden speech at the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, expressed gratitude to his colleagues and sought prayers so that he could spend the rest of his life serving the people and the country.

At 3:50pm, Abbas entered the chamber in a wheelchair. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad welcomed him, while MPs greeted him with table-thumping. As he could not sit in the front row because of his wheelchair, he was accommodated in an adjacent space.

After Asr prayers, Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal allowed Abbas to speak during the session on private members’ resolutions. Using the microphone of BNP Standing Committee member Amanullah Aman, Abbas began by thanking his colleagues.

“I have returned to the people, to work for them and for Bangladesh,” he said, describing the occasion as "deeply emotional and historic" in his political life.

“After nearly two decades, I have once again had the opportunity to speak in this sacred chamber as a member of parliament. There can be no greater joy or pride,” he said.

Abbas also expressed gratitude to the president, the prime minister and the Prime Minister’s Office for regularly checking on him during his illness.

He sought prayers for his health and strength so that he could serve his constituency and the nation with dedication and integrity.

A veteran politician, Abbas was previously elected MP from Dhaka-6 in 1991 and 2001. He served as housing and public works minister in the BNP government from 2001 to 2006 and also served as mayor of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation.

Elected from Dhaka-8 in the February 12 parliamentary polls, he took oath as an MP on February 17. On the same day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman appointed him adviser with the rank of minister and later assigned him as political adviser.

However, Abbas fell seriously ill on the eve of the first session of parliament. On March 11, he collapsed during iftar and was rushed to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Two days later, he underwent brain surgery.

On March 15, he was flown by air ambulance to Singapore General Hospital. On April 14, he was transferred to Prince Court Medical Centre in Malaysia for physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

He returned to Bangladesh yesterday.