United News of Bangladesh

The MPs-elect of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam have taken oath as members of both the 13th Parliament and the Constitution Reform Council on Tuesday. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath at 12:22pm in line with the Constitution as the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently vacant. Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Moula conducted the oath-taking ceremony at the oath-taking room of the Jatiya Sangsad.  Jamaat MPs-elect first took oath as members of parliament and then separately did so as members of the Constitution Reform Council. They signed the two types of oath forms – the white forms for the members of Parliament and the light blue form for the CRC members. Now the newly elected MPs need to sign the oath book and provide fingerprints, images and digital signatures for preparation of their digital identity cards following the ceremony. Independent MP-elects also took oath as Members of Parliament. Earlier at 10:43am, BNP’s MP-elects took oath as only members of the 13th parliament not as members of the Constitution Reform Council. BNP newly elected MPs refrained from taking oath as CRC members arguing that the provision for such council must be incorporated in the Constitution first following endorsement of the Parliament. Speaking to media ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said none of them have been elected as members of any Constitution Reform Council (CRC) and that the Constitution does not currently contain such a council. “We were not elected as members of any Constitution Reform Council, nor has such a body yet been incorporated into the Constitution. If a Constitution Reform Council is formed following the verdict of the referendum, it must first be in the Constitution,” he said. On Friday last, the EC published a gazette of 297 elected MP candidates. The election results of two other constituencies – Chattogram-2 and 4-- were withheld as per the court orders.  Besides, the election to Sherpur-3 was earlier cancelled following the death of a contesting candidate. But, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman left Bogura-6 seat for by-election, taking oath as a member of parliament from Dhaka-17 constituency. Jamaat Ameer calls meeting with Tarique 'an important moment' In the election, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 parliamentary seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68. Besides, National Citizen Party-NCP settled victory in six constituencies, independent candidates in seven constituencies, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish in two, Islami Andolan Bangladesh in one, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho) in one, Ganaodhikar Parishad in one, Ganasamhati Andolan in one and Khelafat Majlish in one parliamentary seat. So, the BNP-led electoral alliance sealed victory in a total of 212 constituencies, while the Jamaat-led electoral alliance won in 77 constituencies.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said they have decided that BNP MPs will not take any duty-free car. “We have also decided that no government plot will be taken by our MPs,” he told reporters after the first meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party (BNP) held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. BPP on Tuesday unanimously elected party Chairman Tarique Rahman as the Leader of the House. This means Tarique Rahman is set to form the new government as Prime Minister. The ministers are scheduled to take oath at the South Plaza of Parliament at 4pm. Fakhrul described it as a historic moment, saying that after a long period marked by repression, destruction of democracy and making parliament ineffective, the country has finally got a parliament through a credible election, achieved through the sacrifices of many people. “With a majority in parliament, we have elected our young leader Tarique Rahman as the leader of the parliamentary party,” he said. Earlier the newly elected BNP MPs were sworn in at the oath-taking room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.  Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12.  

Newly elected BNP MPs have not taken oath as members of the proposed Constitution Reform Council (CRC) saying that the provision for such council must be incorporated in the Constitution first following endorsement of the Parliament. They took oath as only members of the 13th Parliament at 10:43am at the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath in line with the Constitution as the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently vacant. Speaking to media, ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said none of them have been elected as members of any Constitution Reform Council (CEC) and that the Constitution does not currently contain such a council. “We were not elected as members of any Constitution Reform Council, nor has such a body yet been incorporated into the Constitution. If a Constitution Reform Council is formed following the verdict of the referendum, it must first be in the Constitution,” he said. Salahuddin Ahmed further said that there is no constitutional provision specifying who would administer the oath to members of the proposed council.  He said such legal issues must be clearly defined before any oath-taking can take place. Referring to two different oath forms, he explained that while a white oath form exists for Members of Parliament under the Third Schedule of the Constitution, the coloured (light blue) form shown for CRC members has no constitutional basis. This form needs first be incorporated into the Third Schedule of the Constitution before any oath can be administered, said Salahuddin, also a newly elected MP. BNP MPs-elect take oath as members of parliament “The oath of the members of the Constitution Reform Council can be taken after these things (legal issues) are constitutionally adopted in the Parliament,” he said, adding that they have proceeded so far in line with the Constitution. “So far, we have proceeded strictly in line with the Constitution. We hope to continue doing so in the days ahead. Following the directive of our party Chairman and in his presence, I have conveyed our party’s decision to you,” said Salahuddin Ahmed.

The BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) on Tuesday unanimously elected party Chairman Tarique Rahman as the Leader of the House. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir disclosed this to reporters after the meeting of the BPP held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. This means Tarique Rahman is set to form the new government as Prime Minister. The ministers are scheduled to take oath at the South Plaza of Parliament at 4pm. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Fakhrul described it as a historic moment, saying that after a long period marked by repression, destruction of democracy and making parliament ineffective, the country has finally got a parliament through a credible election, achieved through the sacrifices of many people. “With a majority in parliament, we have elected our young leader Tarique Rahman as the leader of the parliamentary party,” he said. “We are hopeful that under his leadership the country will move forward significantly,” Fakhrul added. He said the first meeting of the parliamentary party also decided that BNP MPs will not take any duty-free car. “We have also decided that no government plot will be taken by our MPs,” he said. Earlier the newly elected BNP MPs were sworn in at the oath-taking room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.  Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12. Out of 300 seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, results of two seats have been suspended, while election in one seat was cancelled following the death of a candidate.  Of the remaining 297 seats, BNP won 209, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami 68, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) 6, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish 2, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Gano Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Ganosamhati Andolon and Khelafat Majlish secured one seat each. Independent candidates won seven seats. On Monday, Tarique Rahman retained the Dhaka-17 seat and vacated the Bogura-6 seat. A by-election will be held in the constituency.

The local office of the Bangladesh Awami League was reopened in Betagi Upazila of Barguna on Monday, around 18 months after its activities were declared banned. The office, located at Betagi Bazar, was unlocked around noon by leaders of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, witnesses said. The reopening was carried out under the supervision of former Chhatra League joint general secretary Asaduzzaman Nadim. RAB detains two JMB members in Borguna Photographs of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina were also displayed inside the office. Among those present were Betagi Upazila Chhatra League general secretary Sifat Sikder and former upazila general secretary Mostafa Jamal Shamim, along with a number of other leaders and activists. Eyewitnesses said leaders and activists of Jubo League and the banned Chhatra League gathered in front of the office and chanted slogans. Later, a banner reading “Reopening of Betagi Upazila Awami League office after 18 months” was hung inside and outside the office. U-16 Women’s Football: Borguna, Magura make good start No immediate reaction from the local administration was available in this regard.

National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam on Monday vowed to ensure justice for Sharif Osman Bin Hadi and the perpetrators of the July uprising killings. In a Facebook post on Monday afternoon, he said that implementing the July Charter and taking a firm stance against looting, corruption, and extortion remain key commitments of his party. Nahid Islam, who contested the national election from Dhaka-11 constituency, won by a margin of more than 2,000 votes. Running with the Shapla Kali (water lily bud) symbol, he secured 93,872 votes. After meeting Jamaat Ameer, Tarique meets NCP chief Nahid Meanwhile, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman paid a courtesy call on Nahid at his residence on Bailey Road in the capital around 8:30 pm on Sunday.

Newly elected MPs are set to take oath as members of the 13th parliament and also the Constitution Reform Council on Tuesday. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath in line with the Constitution as the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently vacant. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the oath-taking room of the Jatiya Sangsad.   BNP’s MPs-elect will take oath at 10am, while those of Jamaat-e-Islami will do so at 12pm, said Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Moula. “Both oaths of the elected MPs as members of parliament and as members of the Constitution Reform Council will be held at a time (the same event),” she told UNB on Monday evening. Besides, the Election Commission on Monday wrote to the Parliament Secretariat asking to take necessary measures as the Chief Election Commissioner will administer the oath of newly elected members of the 13th parliament and also members of the Constitution Reform Council at 10am on Tuesday. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed wrote the letter to the Secretary of Parliament Secretariat. However, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday raised constitutional concerns regarding the oath of the Constitution Reform Council, casting uncertainty over whether such an oath can legally be administered now. DMP issues traffic guidelines for oath-taking ceremony “If the Constitutional Reform Council is incorporated into the Constitution through an amendment, and if a specific oath format is included in the Third Schedule of the Constitution with a designated authority to administer that oath—only after all these conditions are met could such a process take place,” he said. While the Third Schedule of the Constitution specifies the oaths for various offices, including that of Members of Parliament, it does not mention any oath for members of a Constitution Reform Council, he said. Responding to questions from journalists, Salahuddin Ahmed, also a newly elected MP, said the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission is to conduct the national parliamentary and presidential elections. Officials at the Parliament Secretariat said newly elected MPs will sign the oath book and provide fingerprints, images and digital signatures for preparation of their digital identity cards following the ceremony. The 13th parliamentary election and referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025 were held on Thursday last (February 12) in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies amid festivity and peaceful atmosphere. On Friday last, the EC published a gazette of 297 elected MP candidates. The election results of two other constituencies – Chattogram-2 and 4-- were withheld as per the court orders. Besides, the election to Sherpur-3 was earlier cancelled following the death of a contesting candidate. But BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has left Bogura-6 seat for by-election as he is set to take oath as a member of parliament from Dhaka-17 constituency. In the election, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 parliamentary seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68. Besides, National Citizen Party-NCP settled victory in six constituencies, independent candidates in seven constituencies, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish in two, Islami Andolan Bangladesh in one, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho) in one, Ganaodhikar Parishad in one, Ganasamhati Andolan in one and Khelafat Majlish in one parliamentary seat. So, the BNP-led electoral alliance sealed victory in a total of 212 constituencies, while the Jamaat-led electoral alliance won in 77 constituencies. According to the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025, a Constitution Reform Council shall be formed with the representatives elected in the general election, which could apply all authorities related to the constitutional reform. The representatives elected in the election shall act as the members of the parliament and also members of the Council simultaneously. The Constitution Reform Council shall complete the implementation of the July National Charter and the Constitutional Reforms in line with the mandate gained through the referendum within 180 working days since the formation of the council and then the tenure of the council will end immediately. The Order also states that the authority entitled to administer the oath of MPs will likewise administer the oath of members of the Constitution Reform Council. 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 Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) or a President-nominated person will administer the oath. Maldives' President, FM to join oath-taking ceremony 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.” Tenures of all Parliaments The tenure of first parliament was from 07-04-1973 to 06-11-1975 (2 years 6 months and 30 days), the second parliament from 02-04-1979 to 24-03-1982 (2 years 11 months 22 days), the third parliament from 10-07-1986 to 06-12-1987 (1 year 4 months 26 days), the fourth parliament from 15-04-1988 to 06-01-1990 (1 year 8 months 22 days), the fifth parliament from  05-04-1991 to 24-11-1995 (4 years 7 months 19 days), the sixth parliament from 19-03-1996 to 30-03-1996 (11 days),  the seventh parliament from 14-07-1996 to 13-07-2001 (4 years 11 months 29 days), the eight parliament from 28-10-2001 to 27-10-2006 (4 years 11 months 29 days), the ninth parliament from 25-01-2009 to 24-01-2014 (4 years 11 months 30 days), the 10th parliament from 19-01-2014 to 28-01-2019 (5 years 9 days), the 11th parliament from 30-01-2019 to 06-01-2024 (4 years 11 months 7 days) and the 12th parliament from 10-01-2024  to 06-08-2024 (6 months 27 days).

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister-in-waiting Tarique Rahman paid a courtesy call on Pir and Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim on Monday evening, just a day before forming the next government following his party’s landslide victory in Thursday’s national election. The BNP chief arrived at Rezaul Karim’s Siddheswari residence around 7:15pm for the meeting, which is being seen as a positive political gesture after the polls, said BNP Media Cell member Atikur Rahman Rumon.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday said his party will welcome any move by the opposition to form a ‘shadow cabinet’, as the practice exists in many developed democracies. “In many developed democracies, the opposition forms a shadow parliament. If they take such a step, we will welcome it,” he said while talking to reporters in front of the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. Salahuddin Ahmed also presented a constitutional explanation regarding the oath of members of the Constitutional Reform Council. “If the Constitutional Reform Council is incorporated into the Constitution through an amendment, and if a specific oath format is included in the Third Schedule of the Constitution with a designated authority to administer that oath—only after all these conditions are met could such a process take place,” he said. However, a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat said the newly elected MPs of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will first be sworn in as members of parliament (MPs), followed by their oath-taking as members of the Constitutional Reform Council on Tuesday at 10am in the Oath Room of the parliament complex. Uncertainty remains over whether the MPs elected from BNP will take the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, as the party believes the existing Constitution contains no provision for such a council. While the Third Schedule of the Constitution specifies the oaths for various offices, including that of Members of Parliament, it does not mention any oath for members of a Constitutional Reform Council. Responding to questions from journalists, Salahuddin Ahmed said the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission is to conduct the national parliamentary and presidential elections. Tarique Rahman quits Bogura-6, keeping Dhaka-17: EC The BNP leader explained that constitutionally, if the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is unavailable, unable, or has not nominated a representative, the second option is for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to administer the oath to the elected MPs. Besides, he said, the oath of the newly elected members will be held in Parliament at 10:00am tomorrow (Tuesday), which falls within the constitutional jurisdiction of the CEC. Earlier, on Sunday, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shishir Monir and NCP leader Asif Mahmud announced the formation of a shadow cabinet through their posts on the social media. Before Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury spoke to journalists, expressing hope that the opposition will play a democratic role in Parliament in the interest of the country. He mentioned that the new BNP government will face several major challenges in running the country. “We want to move the country forward in a united manner.” Referring to major challenges across sectors such as education, healthcare and the economy, Khosru said, “All the institutions have been destroyed. There are challenges in restoring them as well. So we must confront these challenges. The trust that the people have placed in us will remain at the forefront of our minds.”

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has left Bogura-6 seat for by-election as he is set to take oath as a member of parliament from Dhaka-17 constituency on Tuesday. “We’ve received a letter that BNP chairman Tarique Rahman quits Bogura-6 constituency,” Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told UNB on Monday. He said now the process continues to publish a gazette declaring the parliamentary constituency vacant. Tarique Rahman was elected from two parliamentary seats – Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17— in the parliamentary elections held on Thursday last. On Friday last, the EC published a gazette of 297 elected MP candidates. The election results of two other constituencies – Chattogram-2 and 4-- were withheld as per the court orders. Besides, the election to Sherpur-3 was earlier cancelled following the death of a contesting candidate. The newly elected MPs are set to take oath as members of the 13th parliament and also members of the Constitution Reform Council on Tuesday morning. In the election, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 parliamentary seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68. Besides, National Citizen Party-NCP settled victory in six constituencies, independent candidates in seven constituencies, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish in two, Islami Andolan Bangladesh in one, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho) in one, Ganaodhikar Parishad in one, Ganasamhati Andolan in one and Khelafat Majlish in one parliamentary seat.