New MPs, cabinet to take oath on Tuesday: India’s Speaker, Bhutan’s PM to attend ceremony
Staff Reporter :
The newly elected members of parliament (MPs) of the 13th National Assembly will take oath at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangad 10:00 am on Tuesday. The swearing-in of the cabinet members will also be held at the same venue in at 4:00 pm.
For the first time, an incoming government is going to begin its journey under the open sky, with cabinet members taking oath of the office.
“Most probably – I repeat, most probably – under the current circumstances, the oath of the new MPs will be administered by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), said Asif Nazrul, adviser for law, justice and parliamentary affairs said while briefing reporters at the ministry yesterday afternoon.
The 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, representatives from different countries have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government, led by Tarique Rahman,
Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 17 at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, where some historic event took place including signing of July Charter.
According to officials of the interim government, heads of government and senior representatives from China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan have been invited to witness the oath-taking ceremony.
The invitations were extended by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus following consultations with the BNP leadership after the party secured a landslide victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
Among the confirmed attendees, according to Ministry of External Affairs, is Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, who will represent the Government of India at the ceremony. He will be accompanied by Vikram Misri.
His “participation at this important event underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh, reaffirming India’s steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind our two nations,” it said in a statement on Sunday.
The statement further said, “As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to an elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people.”
Meanwhile, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay is also travelling to Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony, diplomatic sources confirmed on Sunday.
Earlier, Law Adviser to the Interim Government Asif Nazrul told the media on Sunday that the Foreign ministers of SAARC member countries have been invited to the oath ceremony.
Replying to a question whether India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been invited, he said that he did not have any specific information on the matter.
The ceremony will mark a departure from long-standing tradition, as it will be held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex instead of the presidential residence, Bangabhaban.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the Prime Minister and members of the new cabinet at 4:00 pm.
Earlier in the day, the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) will take their oath at 10:00 am, most likely administered by the Chief Election Commissioner, reports BSS.
Following the MPs’ oath-taking, the BNP parliamentary party will elect its leader, who will then formally seek appointment as Prime Minister from the President after demonstrating the party’s absolute majority in Parliament.
In the February 12 parliamentary election, voting was held in 299 of the 300 constituencies, with polling in Sherpur-3 suspended due to the death of a candidate. The Election Commission has published the gazette for 297 seats so far.
The upcoming swearing-in ceremony is widely viewed as a significant moment in country’s democratic journey, as the country transitions to a new elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.