Speaker elected MP without contest

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the sole candidate for Rangpur-6 (Peerganj) parliamentary seat, has been elected MP. The seat had been vacated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. A gazette announcing Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury’s election will be released in a few hours, hinted Election Commissioner Abu Hafiz. The Speaker will take part in the first session of the 10th Parliament as an elected member. This also leaves no legal barriers to her being elected as the next Speaker. Abu Hafiz said that a gazette to this effect will also be published on the same day. The 10th Parliament is supposed to go into its maiden session on Wednesday (Jan 29). There is a provision to elect the Speaker of a Parliament during its first assembly, according to bdnews24.com.