Early rift over Reform Council oath casts shadow on political harmony

After winning an absolute majority in the national parliamentary election, Tarique Rahman took the initiative to foster political unity by visiting the residences of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, NCP Convener Nahid Islam, and Islami Andolon Bangladesh chief Fazlur Rahman with bouquets.

Before that image of political harmony could fade, a contrasting scene unfolded at the oath-taking ceremony of MPs and ministers today (17 February) as the BNP refused to take oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council.

At 10am today, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath to newly elected members of parliament at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. The EC also arranged a special oath aimed at forming a Constitution Reform Council. However, while BNP MPs under Tarique took oath as MPs, they did not take oath as members of the Council.

In protest of the BNP's position, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) initially announced they would not take any oath at all. Later, they took both oaths but boycotted the afternoon cabinet swearing-in ceremony.

As a result, a visible rift has emerged between the two major political forces over the Constitution Reform Council issue.

Although Tarique's swearing-in as prime minister marked the beginning of an elected parliamentary government after a long period, the episode has raised fresh concerns about instability in national politics, say political analysts.

Concerns of growing tension

Analysts believe that the opposition parties' stance over the Reform Council on the very first day of the new parliament may intensify the push-and-pull between conflict and cooperation in the political arena. Legal and constitutional disputes could surface in the future, potentially unsettling the broader political environment.

They view the boycott of the cabinet oath ceremony by Jamaat and NCP leaders as a new cause for concern.

Prominent lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik told TBS that the formation of parliament and the launch of the new government were expected to begin smoothly. Tarique's visit to the opposition leaders' homes was a goodwill gesture. Also, BNP did not hold celebratory rallies after its victory, offering prayers instead.

"It was a very smooth start. But in light of the oath ceremony incident, it seems that the journey stumbled. It is unfortunate," he said.

According to Dr Malik, differences of opinion are natural in politics, but the issue could have been resolved through discussion. The sudden "hardline" stance taken by Jamaat and NCP created unnecessary tension, resulting in what he described as the "first stumble" of the new parliament.

He added that the primary aspiration of the July uprising was the departure of Sheikh Hasina and the establishment of a country free from authoritarianism. At present, ordinary citizens are more concerned about livelihoods, inflation control, and employment than technical constitutional reforms. In his view, excessive focus on constitutional debates may not resonate strongly with the public.

Political analyst Altaf Parvez told TBS that while the situation does not amount to a deadlock, it does involve delay. "Questions surrounding the referendum process may have prompted the BNP to seek clarification before taking further steps, which could create temporary political tension."

Professor Dr Abdul Latif Masum of the Government and Politics Department at Jahangirnagar University said since political authority now rests with the BNP, the matter depends entirely on the party's leadership.

Asked whether the issue might create uncertainty around reform, he said, "It would not jeopardise reform efforts. However, the BNP should have taken the oath as it would have enhanced public confidence."

Badiul Alam Majumdar, the secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN), told TBS that although BNP's elected representatives took oath as MPs, their refusal to take oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council has created complications.

"A dispute has arisen at the very outset over a single issue. We hope that instead of creating complexities, the problem will be resolved. The country is facing numerous challenges, including economic ones," he said.

He further added that the people of the country are sovereign, and the people's verdict is the supreme constitution. Since the public voted "Yes" in favour of reform in the referendum, the BNP should uphold that mandate. "When the people deliver a verdict, it carries the weight of constitutional authority," he said.

Another analyst noted that although Tarique aims to form a stable government, the early rift with once allies and partners could become a major challenge in governance. The first 100 days of the new government may prove particularly difficult.

Reactions from allies

After the oath-taking ceremony, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman told journalists that it is everyone's responsibility to respect the aspirations of July and the verdict of the referendum. By not taking the oath to the Constitution Reform Council, the BNP had disregarded both the spirit of July and the referendum decision, he claimed, calling it contrary to public expectations.

"If the BNP truly respects July and embraces reform, they will take this oath," he said.

Shafiqur Rahman added that Jamaat had been prepared to attend the ministers' oath ceremony but felt mentally shaken. "We cannot dishonour the martyrs of July. That is why, despite our willingness, we could not attend. We regret that," he said.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam said that by refusing to take the oath to the Reform Council, the BNP had effectively given a "thumbs down" to the referendum verdict in favour of reform.

He noted that referendums were not previously mentioned in the Constitution, and their legality stems from the specific order under which they were conducted. All parties had accepted that order and participated in both the election and the referendum. "As a result, a constitutional and legal crisis has emerged. We do not know how it will be resolved," he said.

Nahid Islam urged the BNP to take the oath at the earliest opportunity to resolve the crisis and fulfill its commitment to implement reform in line with public expectations.