DHAKA: The first session of the 10th parliament resumed Tuesday evening after a five-day recess.

The session resumed around 4.30pm with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Earlier, President M Abdul Hamid convened the inaugural session of the new parliament for January 29.

The president addressed lawmakers for 40 minutes urging political parties that had boycotted the national polls to help build a consensus by shunning the path of anarchy to enhance the democratic traditions of Bangladesh by recoiling from communal and terrorist organizations.

After the president’s speech, the house was adjourned till February 4.

In the maiden session, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was elected speaker of the house for a second term and Advocate Fazley Rabbi Miah was elected as her deputy.

Dr Shirin Sharmin said that her position as speaker was a "victory" for all women in Bangladesh.

She said that people’s expectations drove parliament to work for their betterment and progress.

It is the first time in country’s history of parliamentary democracy that a party in power will also have to function as opposition too.

Jatiya Party is the main opposition party and a part of the wit government.  

JP leader Raushan Ershad is the leader of opposition in parliament.

On January 5, a total of 297 lawmakers were elected in the 10th national polls amid a boycott by the BNP-led 18-party alliance and 153 MPs were elected uncontested.

BDST: 1645 HRS, FEB 03, 2014