Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government is committed to sustaining the recognition as a developing country by expanding education, and having an upskilled workforce, worthy citizens.

"Bangladesh today is a developing country. We have to maintain that recognition, and for this we need to expand education, and have skilled workforce, worthy citizens," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating a programme of giving away stipends, tuition fees, admission assistance, and treatment grants among disadvantaged and meritorious students from PM's Education Assistance Trust at the Ministry of Education.

She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

"To ensure a poverty-free Bangladesh, education is needed most. Like the Father of the Nation, we do not consider expenditure in the education sector as expense; we consider it an investment for the future generation," she said.

The Prime Minister said that the government is setting up various types of universities across the country, considering the demand of the contemporary world.

In this connection, she mentioned that the government has established Maritime University and Aviation University.

Lawmakers elected in Sunday's polls took oath as members of the 11th parliament yesterday with the 10th Jatiya Sangsad still in place.

The same thing happened five years ago when the lawmakers, elected in the 10th national polls, were sworn in, constituting the current parliament two weeks before the dissolution of the ninth JS.

But the constitutional provisions do not allow the MPs, elected in Sunday's polls, to take oath and assume office before the expiry of the existing parliament's tenure. 

According to article 123 (3) (b), the lawmakers, elected in the December 30 polls, are required to wait for the expiry of the term of the current parliament.

Article 72 (3) clearly says, "Unless sooner dissolved by the president, parliament shall stand dissolved on the expiration of the period of five years from the date of its first meeting."

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administers oath to MPs-elect. Photo: PID, BSS

The first sitting of the 10th parliament was held on January 29, 2014, meaning its five-year tenure will expire on January 28.

One may argue that the MPs sworn in yesterday would not assume office before January 28. Such argument does not have any substance.

This is because, according to article 148 (3), MPs assume office immediately after taking oath.

After swearing in as lawmakers, the ruling Awami League MPs held their parliamentary party meeting, elected party President Sheikh Hasina as their leader and passed a resolution to this effect.

The resolution proves that Hasina commands support of the majority of lawmakers in the newly constituted parliament. Her party won 257 of the 300 seats in the election.

President Abdul Hamid invited Hasina to form a new government when she met him yesterday afternoon. He will appoint her as the PM and administer the oath of office.

On advice of the newly appointed PM, the president will appoint other ministers and state ministers.

In parliamentary democracy, one of the major functions of parliament is to form a government.

The Jatiya Party, which emerged as the second largest party in Sunday's election, held its parliamentary party meeting immediately after its MPs took oath yesterday.

They decided to be a part of the new government.

AN UNUSUAL INSTANCE 

Our lawmakers yesterday set an instance that cannot be found in any other existing parliamentary democracy.

Countries such as the UK -- birthplace of Westminster style of parliamentary democracy -- New Zealand, Australia and Canada go to general elections, dissolving their parliaments. The question of constituting a parliament keeping the existing one in place does not arise there.

India is the only exception. Over the past 65 years, it has held 16 general elections.

Its parliament, popularly known as Lok Sabha, existed during the general election on several occasions. But in those cases, new parliament was not constituted, keeping the existing one in place.

Take the formation of the current 16th Lok Sabha for example.

Elections were held in nine phases from April 7 to May 12 in 2014. The 15th Lok Sabha existed during the polls.

As soon as the election results were announced, the then President Pranab Mukherjee on May 18 dissolved the 15th Lok Sabha with immediate effect, completing a formality before the constitution of the new House, according to a NDTV report published on May 18, 2014.

The MPs, elected in the 16th Lok Sabha polls, took oath on June 5, 2014.

But for Bangladesh, things are different.

Asked, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said there is no constitutional bar on newly elected MPs in taking oath with the current parliament in place.

"The maiden session of the 11th parliament will be held after the tenure of the present parliament ends on January 28."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today laid the foundation stone of a 4.8km double-line dual-gauge Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge -- aimed at boosting rail communication between the capital and western zones of the railway.

Once constructed, the dedicated dual-gauge double-track railway bridge over the Jamuna River, which will be built some 300 metres upstream of the Bangabandhu Bridge that has a single rail line, would be the largest dedicated rail bridge in the country.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

Bangladesh Railway, along with the consultant organisations -- Oriental Consultants Global Company Limited and Chodai Company Limited of Japan and Development Design Consultants Limited of Bangladesh in association with ACE Consultants Limited of Bangladesh -- have already completed a detailed design of the railway bridge.

The main bridge will be constructed in two phases. Two separate agreements have already been signed with Obayashi-TOA-JFE, Japan and IHI-SMCC JV, Japan for eastern and western parts of civil works respectively.

A joint venture of Obayashi Corporation, TOA Corporation and JFE would construct the eastern part of the bridge at a cost of Tk 6,801 crore, while another joint venture of the IHI and SMCC will work on the western part which will cost Tk 6,148 crore.

As per the agreements, land was handed over to both contractors in July this year.

The main project operations include the construction of a 4.8km long dual-gauge double-track bridge, construction of a 7.6km long double-line railway approach embankment, erection of 30.73km dual-gauge railway track, construction of 16 railway approach viaducts, minor bridges and culverts, renovation and remodeling of Bangabandhu Bridge East and Bangabandhu Bridge West stations and yards.

The new bridge will be able to run trains at a speed of 120 kmph on broad gauge line and 100 kmph on metre gauge track. With the construction of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge, 88 trains will be able to run.

The project is scheduled to be completed by 2025.

Bhutan Premier Dr Lotay Tshering today arrived in Dhaka to a red-carpet welcome by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Bhutanese PM is the fourth among world leaders to arrive in Dhaka on a three-day official visit to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A VVIP aircraft of Bhutan's national carrier Druk Air carrying Prime Minister Tshering and other entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) around 9:30am.

Prime Minister Hasina welcomed her Bhutanese counterpart at the VVIP tarmac of the airport with a flower bouquet. The visiting leader was subsequently given a tri-services guard of honour at the airport.

Several Ministers, State Ministers, and high-ranking civil and military high officials were also present at the airport.

From the airport, the visiting premier headed to the National Memorial in Savar to pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

At the National Memorial, Tshering signed the visitors' book and planted a sapling next to the one he planted on April 12, 2019.

He is also slated to visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi no 32 to pay tributes to the Father of the nation. A visit to BIMSTEC Secretary General's residence for a meeting is also on his itinerary.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will call on him at the Presidential Suite in the hotel.

In the evening, the Bhutanese PM will attend a cultural programme and a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Hasina in his honor.

On Wednesday, Lotay Tshering is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), where both the leaders are scheduled to hold talks.

After the talks, a couple of MOUs are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan to enhance the cooperation between the two countries.

The Bhutanese Prime Minister will also pay a courtesy call on Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.

Later in the afternoon on Wednesday, Tshering will join the celebrations at National Parade Square as the guest of honour, where Prime Minister Hasina will receive him.