EC publishes gazette for newly elected MPs
With the gazette out, the stage is now set for the swearing-in ceremony of the lawmakers.
The Election Commission (EC) last night (13 February) issued a gazette notification for the 13th parliamentary election, officially confirming the winners for 297 out of 299 seats where polling had been held.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed issued the notification listing the names, parents' names, and addresses of the newly elected members of parliament MPs.
With the gazette out, the stage is now set for the swearing-in ceremony of the lawmakers.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The BNP emerged as the dominant force securing 209 seats, while its alliance partners bagged another three.
The Jamaat-e-Islami followed as the second-largest party with 68 seats, while its allies in the 11-party bloc bagged nine.
Who will swear them in?
Under the constitution, the speaker of the previous (12th) parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, or her nominee, would be typically responsible for administering the oath.
However, after the July Uprising, Shirin submitted her resignation to President Mohammed Shahabuddin on 2 September 2024 following the fall of the Awami League government.
Given the current transition from an interim administration, the CEC is reportedly slated to lead the process to ensure a swift handover.
Earlier, on 5 February, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said there is no scope for the current speaker and deputy speaker to administer the oath to newly elected members of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.
Read the gazette by clicking here
"Under our current constitution, newly elected members of parliament are supposed to take the oath from the speaker or deputy speaker if the speaker is absent. There are other provisions if neither is available.
"In our case, one of them is missing while the other is in jail, and both are facing serious cases. Under these circumstances, I do not see any scope for them to administer the oath," he told reporters.
Asif Nazrul, who is also a law professor, said that under the law, if the speaker and deputy speaker are unable to administer the oath of office, a person nominated by the president on the advice of the chief adviser will be able to do so.
"For example, our chief justice can administer the oath," he said.
As a second option, he added, if the oath-taking does not take place within three days, the CEC can administer the oath.
The landslide victory for the BNP, led by its Chairman Tarique Rahman, marks a significant turn in Bangladesh's political landscape following the historic student-led uprising of 2024.
The election, held on 12 February, also included a national referendum on the July Charter, which saw overwhelming support for constitutional reforms.
What the law says
Following what the law adviser said, according to the Constitution, newly elected MPs must take their oath, typically administered by the speaker, within three days of the gazette notification.
Due to the resignation/absence of the 12th parliament speaker, the CEC or a president-nominated person will administer the oath.
The Article 148 (2A) states, "If, within three days next after publication through official Gazette of the result of a general election of members of Parliament under clause (3) of article 123, the person specified under the Constitution for the purpose or such other person designated by that person for the purpose, is unable to, or does not, administer oath to the newly elected members of Parliament, on any account, the Chief Election Commissioner shall administer such oath within three days next thereafter, as if, he is the person specified under the Constitution for the purpose."
