Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the newly formed Jatiya Sangsad (JS) belongs to the people of Bangladesh, saying that citizens are looking toward it with expectations.

"Today's parliament is the parliament of the people of Bangladesh. The people of the country are looking at this parliament with expectations," he said while delivering a greeting speech after the address of the newly elected Speaker at the maiden session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.

Earlier, senior BNP parliamentarian Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikrom, and another BNP lawmaker Barrister Kayser Kamal were unanimously elected as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the parliament respectively today.

The Prime Minister said, "From now on the Speaker is no longer affiliated with any political party but the guardian of the entire parliament".

Noting that democracy-loving people of the country are looking toward this parliament with hope and expectation, he said, "We want to make the House meaningful in the interest of the country and its people".

Tarique Rahman, also BNP chairman, said that for more than a decade and a half, the democratic political rights of the people had been taken away, and citizens were turned into a weakened population.

During that period, he said, the parliament was turned into a club of those who snatched away the people's rights.

The Leader of the House said that those who introduced themselves as members of parliament (MPs) during the past one and a half decades were not elected by the votes of the people.

"But today's parliament is the parliament of representatives directly elected by the people's vote. This is the parliament of the people of Bangladesh," he added.

The premier further said that the ruling party does not want opposition merely for the sake of opposition, but they want to make parliament vibrant through specific arguments and constructive debates.

In this regard, he said, the role of the Speaker is extremely crucial.

"As members of the Jatiya Sangsad, we will provide the Speaker with maximum support in conducting parliamentary proceedings, InshaAllah," Tarique Rahman said.

At the end of his speech, he conveyed greetings, congratulations and thanks to the newly elected Speaker on behalf of the lawmakers for assuming the new responsibility.

The premier prayed to Almighty Allah for the success of the Jatiya Sangsad.