Dhaka, Feb. 22 -- The first session of the 13th Parliament will convene on Mar 12, when lawmakers will also elect the speaker and deputy speaker to formally set the legislative machinery in motion.

On Sunday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed disclosed the date while at the Secretariat after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

A day earlier, the home minister had told bdnews24.com that the first session could be held on Mar 12 or a couple of days earlier.

Explaining the process, Salahuddin said discussions at the meeting focused on when parliament could be summoned.

"We discussed when parliament could be convened. It has been determined that the proclamation to summon the session must be issued 15 days before it begins. ...