New MPs to be sworn on Tuesday

The newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) will take oath on Tuesday morning, while the new cabinet members will be sworn in later in the afternoon.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath to the newly elected MPs at 10am at Parliament, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told UNB on Saturday night.

He said President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the cabinet members at 4pm at the South Plaza of Parliament.

As per the rules, following the swearing-in of the MPs, a meeting of the Parliamentary Board of the party that 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 head of government.

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

The President will administer the oath first to the Prime Minister, followed by the ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers.

After the oath-taking ceremony, the Cabinet Division will issue a notification allocating the portfolios.

Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony are underway, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid told reporters at the Secretariat on Saturday.

“Around 1,000 guests are expected to be invited to the ceremony,” he added.

The 13th national election was held on Thursday, alongside a referendum. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 parliamentary seats in the election.