Dhaka, March 12 -- Members of the opposition have staged a walkout in protest over the president's address during the first session of the 13th parliament.

When the entry of President Mohammad Shahabuddin into the chamber was announced on Thursday, opposition MPs stood up from their seats and protested.

At the time, they displayed red cards bearing the words "No betrayal of July".

Following parliamentary convention, the leader of the house and members of the ruling party stood up to greet the president as he entered the chamber. However, some opposition MPs remained seated as part of their protest.

When the national anthem began to play on the bugle, minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and officials of parliament requested members to...