Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the swearing-in around 12:15pm at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury and Whips Iqbalur Rahim, Mahbub Ara Begum Gini and Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan were, among others, present on the occasion.
Talking to reporters after taking oath, Mokabbir, also a presidium member of Gono Forum, claimed that he was sworn in as per their party decision. “Our party took the decision at different meetings with its president Dr Kamal Hossain in the chair.”
He said those his party colleagues who are saying he illegally used party letterhead and violated its decision are only doing bad politics to make their personal gains.
The MP also said he will play the role of opposition in parliament and will work for the people of his constituency.
Mokabbir is the second MP of the opposition coalition, Jatiya Oikya Front, who joined the 11th parliament as Gono Forum MP-elect Sultan Muhammad Mansur (Moulvibazar-2) was sworn in on March 7 last.
Mansur was elected MP contesting the December-30 election with BNP’s election symbol “Sheaf of Paddy” while Mokabbir with Gono Forum’s symbol “Rising Sun”.
In the 26-year history of Gono Forum, Mokabbir is the only leader of the party who became MP with its ticket and symbol.
With Mokabbir’s oath taking, 294 MPs-elect out of 300 in the 11th parliamentary polls have so far been sworn in. The six other BNP MPs-elect must take oath by this month if they want to remain members of the current parliament.
On Monday, Mokabbir sent a letter to Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury requesting her to make an arrangement for administrating oath to him.
Earlier on March 3, both Mansur and Mokabbir sent separate letters to the Speaker requesting her to arrange their oath-taking ceremony on historic March 7.
However, Mokabbir Khan did not take oath on that day.
BNP along with Gono Forum and some other parties joined the December-30 election in alliance under the banner of Jatiya Oikyafront. BNP bagged six seats while Gono Forum two in the election.
The alliance turned down the election results bringing the allegation of 'massive vote robbery' and decided not to join parliament.
Gono Forum expelled Sultan Mansur hours after he had joined parliament.
Contacted, party general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu said Mokabbir took oath going against the party decision. “Our party will surely take punitive actions against him.”
Gono Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury said their party may take actions against Mokabbir at a meeting of its central committee scheduled to be held on April 20.
“Gono Forum had a decision that our MPs-elect wouldn’t take oath. But Mokabbir violated the decision. But we can’t take prompt action against him like Sultan Mansur as he is a party presidium member. Mansur was our primary member that’s why we could take an instant decision against him.”
He said their party central committee has the authority to take any step against any presidium member. “Our central committee is scheduled to hold a meeting on April 20. If necessary, we may arrange another meeting within a few days to take decision about Mokabbir.”
Meanwhile, 29 members of Gono Forum’s central committee held a meeting at their Arambagh central office in the evening with Subrata Chowdhury in the chair to take preparations for their next council.
Taking to UNB after the meeting, party training affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam Pathik said all the leaders, except Mofizul Islam Khan Kamal, demanded that Mokabbir be expelled from the party.
He said they urged Subrata Chowdhury and Mostak Ahmed to convey Dr Kamal Hossain the meeting’s decision and take steps in this regard as per the party constitution.
However, a party central leader said their party may not take any prompt action against Mokabbir as there is a speculation that six BNP MPs-elect also may take oath.