Baharam Khan

The first day of the 13th National Parliament was marked by several notable moments, but what stood out most were the recurring subtle “wry” smiles.

Opposition MPs walked out during President Shahabuddin’s address as quiet exchanges and subtle smiles hinted at the politics beneath the spectacle

In order to allow the authorities to confer the Swadhinata Award on late physician and social activist Zafrullah Chowdhury for a second time posthumously, the government yesterday amended the guidelines governing the country’s highest civilian honour.

The government has decided to place 133 ordinances -- issued during the tenure of the interim government -- before Parliament.

When the newly elected government assumed office, expectations were high that the civil administration would undergo a genuine restructuring -- different from the reshuffles of recent years.

Nearly two weeks after the new government was sworn in, most ministries have yet to upload the profiles of the newly appointed ministers and state ministers on their official websites, leaving citizens without basic information about policymakers.

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has expressed his desire to distribute responsibilities among two state ministers in an office memo to the cabinet secretary.

The government is considering the appointment of administrators to the zilla parishads of 61 districts to oversee the activities of the local government bodies until elected representatives assume office.