DHAKA, Jan 25: Bangladesh took another step in its return to democracy on Sunday when parliament convened for the first time since 2006, following two years of rule by an unelected military-backed interim government.

Bangladesh’s foreign friends and investors hope the resumption of parliamentary rule will help bring a degree of political stability enabling the country to reduce poverty and carry forward vital development in key sectors including energy and infrastructure.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia led legislators from their respective parties and alliances to the sprawling parliament house, with outgoing speaker Jamiruddin Sircar presiding at the opening session.

The house will elect a new speaker and a deputy speaker from Hasina’s Awami League on Sunday, and is likely to appoint another deputy speaker from Khaleda’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in a few days, parliament officials said.

A “grand alliance” led by the Awami League won more than two-thirds of parliament’s 300 seats in a Dec 29 election, against just 33 taken by the BNP and its allies.

Khaleda alleged the vote was marred by fraud and rigging though international monitors billed it fair and credible.—Reuters