13th parliament takes shape as BNP, Jamaat, NCP, other MPs take oath
The 11-party alliance MPs have also taken oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council
Highlights
- Oath-taking of 296 MPs, including 208 BNP, began at 10:36am
- Rumeen Farhana sworn in as MP, skipped Constitution Reform Council
- BNP MPs to forgo duty-free cars and government plots
- Tarique Rahman elected BNP Parliamentary Party leader
- 11-party alliance initially said they would skip oaths as BNP refused council swearing-in, but later took both oaths
The oath-taking ceremony of the 296 newly elected Members of Parliament, including 208 of BNP, formally began at around 10:36am today (17 February) at the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, marking the start of the new parliamentary term.
The programme commenced with recitation from the Holy Quran, after which Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Kaniz Moula announced the beginning of the ceremony with the permission of Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who then administered the oath to the MPs.
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Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath in phases, with members being sworn in separately by party or alliance affiliation and independent status.
The new cabinet is scheduled to take oath later in the afternoon at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, where the president will administer the oath to the cabinet members.
In the recent election, the BNP secured an absolute majority by winning 209 seats. Former ally Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats and is set to sit in the opposition, while the remaining seats were won by other parties and independent candidates.
01:25pm
NCP leaders take oath as MPs, members of Constitution Reform Council
Newly elected Members of Parliament from the National Citizen Party (NCP) were sworn in today, shortly after 1:30pm, at the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, and the oath was administered by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. The event was conducted under the supervision of Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Moula.
Earlier, NCP sources had indicated that their MPs were considering skipping the oath in protest, as BNP lawmakers did not take the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. However, the party did not provide a final decision on the matter at that time.
Jamaat-e-Islami MPs had taken their oaths as both Members of Parliament and members of the Constitutional Reform Council earlier in the day.
12:55pm
NCP MPs to take dual oaths, skip cabinet swearing-in over Constitution Reform Council
Members of Parliament elected from the National Citizen Party (NCP) will take two successive oaths today, first as members of the Parliament and then as members of the Constitution Reform Council, to honour the aspirations of July uprising and the public mandate.
However, as the BNP declined to take the Constitution Reform Council oath, the NCP has decided not to attend the cabinet swearing-in ceremony scheduled for this afternoon, Akhter Hossen, secretary of the NCP, said in a post on his verified Facebook profile.
12:27pm
Rumeen Farhana takes parliamentary oath, skips Constitutional Reform Council swearing-in
Rumeen Farhana was the first to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament, taking the oath alongside other MPs from the 11-party alliance. She did not take the oath as a member of the Constitutional Reform Council.
12:23pm
Jamaat-e-Islami MPs take oath as Members of Parliament and Constitutional Reform Council
Newly elected Members of Parliament from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were sworn in today. The ceremony took place just before 12:30pm at the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
11:36am
11-party alliance will not take oath as BNP skips Constitution Reform Council oath, says Asif Mahmud
The 11-party alliance will not take any oath in accordance with the law as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lawmakers skip the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, said Asif Mahmud, spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
Asif Mahmud made the remarks in a post on his verified Facebook profile today.
11:35am
NCP considering skipping oath as MPs over BNP stance on Constitution Reform Council
Members of Parliament elected from the NCP are considering not taking the oath as MPs after BNP lawmakers declined to be sworn in as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Narayanganj-4 MP-elect Abdullah Al Amin said around 11am on Tuesday, "We are thinking about not taking the oath as BNP MPs are not taking the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. However, we do not want to say anything final on the matter right now."
The oath-taking ceremony for NCP's newly elected MPs has been scheduled for 12pm today.
NCP Joint Convener Monira Sharmin said six of the party's MPs had already reached the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban to attend the programme. She added that the six NCP lawmakers "may not take the oath" in light of the BNP's decision not to be sworn in as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.
11:43am
BNP MPs to forgo duty-free cars, government plots
At the first meeting of its parliamentary party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided that none of its MPs will accept duty-free cars or take government-allocated plots.
The decision was confirmed by media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan.
11:30am
Hanzala arrived at Parliament in rickshaw, NCP's Hasnat in his signature T-shirt, at the oath-taking ceremony
Newly elected Member of Parliament from Madaripur-1 constituency Khelafat Majlis leader Syed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala arrived at the Parliament building by rickshaw to take the oath.
NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah was seen wearing his trademark English Department T-shirt while entering the Parliament area.
11:25am
Tarique elected Leader of BNP Parliamentary Party, set to take oath as PM later today
The BNP Parliamentary Party has elected Tarique Rahman as its Leader, setting him up to become the Leader of the House and take the oath as the prime minister of Bangladesh later today (17 February).
As the majority seat-holding party, the BNP formed the Parliamentary Party and held its first meeting, presided over by Tarique, after its 208 MPs took oath at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban this morning.
At the meeting, the Parliamentary Party elected BNP Chairman Tarique as its Leader and the sole prime ministerial candidate, according to a post on BNP's Facebook page.
Talking to reporters after taking oath, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also confirmed that Tarique, who has outlined new plans and a vision for a "new Bangladesh", has been chosen by the party's MPs to lead them in the Jatiya Sangsad.
11:00am
Jamaat to skip all oaths if BNP refuses to join Constitutional Reform Council, says Taher
Newly elected MPs of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will not take any oath if BNP lawmakers decline to be sworn in as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, the party's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said this morning.
According to Prothom Alo, Taher said their newly elected MPs are scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony at 12pm. "They will go there. However, if BNP does not take the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, the newly elected MPs of Jamaat will not take any oath at all. Because they believe a parliament without reforms is meaningless," he said.
10:30am
Tarique Rahman has arrived, along with Zubaida and Zaima.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has arrived at the National Parliament Building to take oath. He is accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman.
10:27am
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrives
Maldives President Mohammed Muizzoo has arrived in Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Bangladesh led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. This information was confirmed in a post on the ex-post of the Maldives President's Office at 9:39 am on Tuesday.
10:16am
Roads in the capital on which traffic will be controlled
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued special traffic instructions in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area of the capital on the occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected members of parliament and new cabinet members. People have been asked to avoid Manik Mia Avenue and Lake Road from 8 am to 7 pm tomorrow, Tuesday to avoid traffic congestion.
10:11am
1,200 domestic and foreign guests are participating
About 1,200 domestic and foreign guests are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony, including representatives from various South Asian countries, including India and Pakistan.
9:48am
Amir Khusru, Hafizuddin, Gayeshwar, Fazlur, Andaliv, Babar have come.
BNP MP Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, elected from Chittagong-11 constituency, MP Md. Lutfuzzaman Babar, who won from Netrokona-4 constituency, BNP MP Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, who won from Bhola-3 constituency, BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, who won from Dhaka-3 constituency, and MP Fazlur Rahman, who won from Kishoreganj-4 constituency, were seen entering the parliament building. MP Andaliv Rahman Partha, who won from Bhola-1 (Sadar) constituency, was also seen entering.
9:30am
The newly elected members of parliament who won the 13th National Parliament election will take their oaths on Tuesday morning. The newly elected members of parliament will take their oaths at the swearing-in hall of the National Parliament Building at 10 am. Members of the Constitution Reform Council are scheduled to take their oaths at the same time.
Elected members of parliament have been seen entering the parliament building since 9 am. A crowd of eager people has been seen in front of the parliament building. Law enforcement officers are on duty. Media personnel are present.
