Oath-taking of newly elected MPs, cabinet likely on Monday or Tuesday
The EC last night issued a gazette notification for the 13th general election, officially confirming the winners in 297 out of 299 seats where polling had been held.
The oath-taking of the newly elected members of parliament (MPs) and the cabinet members of the new government is likely to take place on Monday (16 February) or Tuesday, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said.
"Process is underway to organise the oath-taking ceremony soon. I hope it will take place by 16 or 17 February," he told journalists at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka this noon (14 February).
Responding to another question, he said the name of the person who will administer the oath will be disclosed later.
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The announcement comes amid preparations for the formation of the new government following the 12 February election, with administrative processes now moving toward finalisation of the swearing-in ceremony.
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
The Election Commission (EC) issued a gazette notification last night 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.
With the gazette out, the stage is now set for the swearing-in ceremony of the lawmakers.
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.
Hence, on 5 February, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs 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.
"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.
Article 148 (2A) of the Constitution 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."
Election data
The BNP secured 209 seats in the 12 February polls. Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami secured 77 seats.
Additionally, the referendum vote to implement the July Charter saw 68.05% of the voters polling "Yes". This is a public vote to press home the constitutional reforms and agendas put forth via consensus by all active political parties.
