No oath for Constitutional Reform Council before amendments: Amir Khasru

BNP Standing Committee member and MP Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that MPs cannot take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council before constitutional amendments are enacted.

Speaking to reporters after taking his parliamentary oath on Tuesday (February 17), he said, “This must be done constitutionally. There is no provision to do it before amending the Constitution. Parliament must operate within constitutional boundaries.”

Khasru added that BNP has always adhered to the Constitution and will continue to do so. Commenting on Jamaat members, he said, “Whether they take the oath is their personal decision. But to respect the people’s mandate, they should take the parliamentary oath.”

The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected 13th Jatiya Sangsad MPs began at 10am on Tuesday. Although MPs were expected to later take oaths as members of the Constitutional Reform Council following the July referendum and legal provisions, BNP MPs declined.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed explained that none of the party members have been elected to the council and it is not yet included in the Constitution. Once the council is formally constituted and incorporated, provisions can be made for administering the oath.

Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin administered the parliamentary oath to the BNP MPs.