Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said his government wants to make parliament meaningful for the interests of the nation and its people.

Congratulating newly elected Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, the leader of the House said the current parliament is truly the parliament of the people of Bangladesh.

“You (Hafiz) have now assumed the responsibility as the guardian of this great institution. The freedom-loving, democracy-seeking people of the country look to this parliament with hope and expectation,” he said.

From today, every member elected to the national parliament stands equal in the eyes of the speaker, he added.

“You are the guardian of this parliament. For more than a decade and a half, the democratic political rights of the people were taken away, reducing them to a weakened community. The national parliament was turned into a club of those who looted people’s rights. Those who claimed to be MPs during that time were not elected by the people’s votes,” he said.

“But today, this parliament is composed of representatives directly elected by the people.”

“Not opposition for the sake of opposition, but through sharp reasoning and constructive debate, we want to make this parliament vibrant. In this regard, your role is paramount. As members of this parliament, we assure you of our fullest cooperation in its functioning,” Tarique said.