New MPs and cabinet to take oath tomorrow

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Sunday said that the newly elected members of parliament (MPs) will take oath at 10 am tomorrow at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.

"Most probably - I repeat, most probably - under the current circumstances, the oath will be administered by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)," he said while briefing reporters at the ministry in the afternoon.

The Law Adviser, quoting the BNP party sources, said right after the oath-taking of the MPs, they will elect their leader of the parliamentary team at the same place, adding, "It would probably take place from 11:30 am to 12 noon."

"The oath-taking of the cabinet members will take place on the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building at 4 pm," he added.

Meanwhile, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new cabinet members at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.

The Cabinet Division and the Parliament Secretariat have started preparations for the oath-taking ceremony since Saturday, two days after the 13th parliamentary elections. 

Breaking with a long-standing tradition, the swearing-in ceremony of the new government is going to be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban instead of Bangabhaban, said an official of the Bangabhaban. 

The cabinet secretary M Siraj Mia will conduct the oath-taking ceremony. 

He said the interim government and the concerned authorities are working on it. As per the rules, following the swearing-in of the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs), a meeting of the Parliamentary Board of the BNP that has secured the majority will be held to elect its parliamentary leader.

The party leader will then meet the President and inform him that the party commands an absolute majority in Parliament, formally seeking appointment as the Prime Minister.

The President will appoint the party leader as Prime Minister, who will subsequently select members of the cabinet. 

Mohammed Shahabuddin as the Head of the State will administer the oath first to the Prime Minister, followed by the ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers on the day. 

According to the constitution, elected members are required to take oath within three days of the gazette publication. 

On Friday night, the Election Commission published the gazette for 297 out of 299 seats in the 13th parliamentary election. 

In this election, BNP-led by its Chairman Tarique Rahman secured an absolute majority by winning 209 seats. Their one-time ally Jamaat-e-Islami is going to sit in the main opposition party with 68 seats. 

Other parties and independent candidates have won the remaining seats. 

The President usually administers the oath of the office to the new government at Bangabhaban.