Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took the oath of office at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on Sunday morning.
However, they did not take oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council.
At the outset of the oath-taking ceremony, BNP leader Salauddin Ahmed said that, on the instructions of party Chief Tarique Rahman, BNP MPs-elect were asked not to sign the Constitution Reform Council form as they were not elected to the council.
He also said that the Constitution Reform Council is not included in the constitution and must first be incorporated in line with the referendum outcome. Besides, he added, necessary rules are also required, including provisions on who will administer the oath to members of the council.
Accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman, Tarique Rahman entered the oath-taking room around 10:28 AM.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath at 10:43 AM in line with the Constitution as the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently vacant.
Jamaat MPs-elect is scheduled to be sworn in at 12:00 PM at the same place.
On Friday night, the Election Commission published the gazette for 297 out of 299 seats in the 13th national election.
Mohammed Shahabuddin is scheduled to administer the oath-taking ceremony of the new government at the parliament’s South Plaza at 4:00 PM today.
BNP secured an absolute majority by winning 209 seats. For the first time, Jamaat-e-Islami is set to become the main opposition party with 68 seats.
BBN/SSR/AD