Shirin Sharmin elected first woman Speaker

Parliament on Tuesday elected Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury as the new Speaker unopposed. She is the country’s first ever woman Speaker. President Abdul Hamid Advocate administered the oath to the newly elected Speaker of Parliament, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, at Sangsad Bhaban after the proroguing of the Parliament’s 17th session.

Textiles and jute minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui proposed her name while lawmaker Shagufta Yasmin supported it. Acting Speaker Shawkat Ali conducted the election.

State minister for women and children affairs, Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury, was unanimously elected the country’s first woman Speaker by voice vote in Parliament. She is also the country’s youngest Speaker.

The lawmakers present chanted “Yes” when the acting Speaker asked them to give their vote in the electoral process. No one said “No”.

After the process, the acting Speaker announced that Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury has been elected the Speaker, following which all lawmakers thumped on their tables.

Greeting the new Speaker, the lone Independent lawmaker, M Fazlul Azim, said in Parliament that the major responsibility of the new Speaker, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, would be to take personal initiatives to bring the Opposition back to the House.

“It is a very important period. I think the major task of the new Speaker will be to take personal initiatives to bring back the Opposition to Parliament,” he said, while giving his opinion on a Bill.

The lawmaker from Noakhali-6 said steps should be taken to end partisan politics and make Parliament a centre of all political activities.

“She (Shirin Sharmin) is from a very respectable family. She’ll have all our support and blessings. We hope she will be able to face any situation,” he said.

Lauding Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury for her bright academic career, Azim said she is highly educated and has a very pleasant personality.

Wishing her success as the new Speaker, he said this is a unique example and will be recorded in the history of the country’s democracy.

Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury is also the only lawmaker-turned-Speaker of the country till now who has been selected as a member of Parliament from a reserved women’s seat. On Monday night, the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) unanimously nominated Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury for the post of Speaker.