PM, cabinet to take oaths tomorrow
Special Correspondent :
After achieving an absolute majority in the 12th national polls, Awami League-led new cabinet members will take oath at 7 o’clock on Thursday evening.
According to sources in the Bangabhaban and Prime Minister’s Office, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who led her party in 7 January elections, will swear in as Prime Minister for the straight fourth time and form the new cabinet of her government.
“AL President Sheikh Hasina and the new cabinet will be sworn in at the Bangabhaban at 7pm on Thursday,” Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said during a press briefing at the secretariat on Thursday.
However, members of parliament (MPs)-elect in 12th parliamentary elections will take oath on Wednesday as the Election Commission approved the publication of election results in official gazettes.
After taking oath, Awami League’s parliamentary party will formally elect Sheikh Hasina as their leader in Parliament and communicate its decision to the President for appointing her as Prime Minister, for the fifth time since her first term in 1996.
Meanwhile, President’s Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin said, “President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new cabinet members including Sheikh Hasina.”
The President will administer the oath to the new prime minister, who will then advise the head of the state to appoint ministers and state ministers, handpicked by her, to form the new cabinet. Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain will conduct the new ministers’ oath-taking ceremony at Durbar Hall of the Bangabhaban at 7:00 pm on the day, he said.
On the occasion, the Bangabhaban has taken preparations to arrange the ceremony with as many as one thousand guests along with dignitaries.
Meanwhile, Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina will pay a courtesy call on the President at Bangabhaban Wednesday afternoon.
However, he did not disclose the specific number of lawmakers who will serve as ministers or the composition of the cabinet.
Meanwhile, speaking at the press briefing, Anisul said the independent candidates who won in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls held on 7 January, will play a role in the formation of the opposition party in the parliament.
“Opposition in the parliament will be decided depending on how the independent candidates position themselves. Elected independent candidates can convene a caucus. If the independents decide to act separately, then Jatiya Party will become the opposition,” he said.
Talking to the journalists at the secretariat Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain said that the newly elected members of the parliament will take oath Wednesday.
Replying to a question, the cabinet secretary said he is yet to receive instructions about the size of the cabinet and who will be the cabinet members.
Speaker of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will administer the oath to the newly elected MPs at 10 am on Wednesday, according to a JS source.
Awami League (AL)-backed candidates won 224 seats on 7 January’s general elections, while independent candidates – most also belonging to AL – won 62 seats.
