The journey towards reinstating democracy is reaching its culmination today, with a democratically elected government set to be sworn in after the inauguration of newly elected legislators earlier in the day.
This marks a new era of governance and optimism for the people, signaling the end of an 18-month period under an interim government that oversaw the much-anticipated national elections.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus bid farewell to officials and staff at his Tejgaon office, along with other advisers who also said their goodbyes from their respective offices.
Subsequently, Yunus addressed the nation as well.
The decision on whether members of the BNP will individually take oath to join the Constitutional Reform Council is still pending.
According to the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025, the lawmakers of the 13th parliament are expected to serve dual roles, both as MPs for regular legislative duties and as council members tasked with reforming 48 constitutional provisions outlined in the July charter within 180 working days.
Hence, they will need to take two separate oaths – one as legislators and another as council members.
Concerning the oath-taking of Constitution Reform Council members, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed stated that certain conditions must be met before the swearing-in can occur.
A statement from the Parliament Secretariat mentioned that the oath ceremonies for the newly elected lawmakers and Constitutional Reform Council members will take place sequentially at the Jatiya Sangsad oath-taking room today, starting at 10:00 am.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath to the 297 newly elected MPs, as confirmed by the Election Commission.
This marks the second time in the country’s history that the CEC is overseeing the lawmakers’ oath.
In the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the CEC is authorized by the constitution to administer the oath to newly elected members of parliament.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin will oversee the oath-taking ceremony of the new government at the parliament’s South Plaza, while the swearing-in of the new cabinet traditionally occurs at the Bangabhaban’s Darbar Hall.
Representatives from various countries are expected to attend the event today.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani declined to disclose the number of cabinet members, stating that logistical preparations need to be made once the list is finalized.
Following the MPs’ oath ceremony, a meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party will convene to elect its parliamentary leader, who will subsequently seek appointment as the prime minister from the president.
The president will administer the oath to the prime minister and other cabinet members on the same day.
The EC recently published the gazette for 297 out of 299 seats in the 13th national election, with BNP securing an absolute majority by winning 209 seats.
Jamaat-e-Islami is set to become the main opposition party for the first time with 68 seats in the parliament.
The 13th national election was held earlier than scheduled due to an uprising in August 2024, triggered by student protests against government job quotas, leading to significant political changes in the country.
The Yunus-led interim government pledged reforms, justice for past incidents, and ensured a credible election process.
Despite some delays and challenges, the election process was relatively peaceful compared to previous instances, with strong support from security forces to maintain order.
After the election, all political parties accepted the outcome, ushering in a new phase of governance.
The interim government’s efforts culminated in the July charter, achieved through consensus among various political parties, shaping the future political landscape.
However, the interim period was not without challenges, including incidents of violence and societal unrest, highlighting the complexities of transitioning power in a democratic setup.
Overall, the interim government’s tenure was a mix of accomplishments and challenges, setting the stage for a new chapter in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
