Oath and uncertainty: BNP weighs Reform Council role
As newly elected lawmakers prepare to take their oath in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday morning, another question hangs in the air: will BNP members also swear in as part of the proposed Constitution Reform Council?
The Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat is arranging two separate oath ceremonies, one for Members of Parliament and another for the Constitution Reform Council. But within the BNP, the second oath remains far from certain.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed made that clear on Monday afternoon while speaking to reporters outside the party chairperson’s political office in Gulshan. His response was cautious and conditional.
“If the Constitution contains provisions for it, if an amendment is made accordingly, if the Third Schedule includes a prescribed oath, and if it is clearly determined who will administer that oath, then it can happen,” he said, listing what he described as several “if” conditions that must be met.
His remarks suggest that the party sees the Reform Council not as a political formality, but as a constitutional matter requiring precise legal footing.
What is certain: The MP oath
One matter, however, is clear. The swearing-in of Members of Parliament will take place at 10 am on Tuesday at the Jatiya Sangsad, in line with constitutional provisions.
Salahuddin explained that administering the oath to MPs falls within the constitutional authority of the Election Commission. If the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is unavailable or unable to perform the duty, the Chief Election Commissioner will administer the oath as an alternative.
That ceremony is set. The Reform Council oath, by contrast, remains tied to legal clarifications and political decisions yet to be finalised.
A government facing heavy expectations
Earlier in the day, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury addressed reporters, striking a broader note about the challenges ahead.
“There are big challenges in all areas including education, health and the economy,” he said. “All the institutions have been destroyed. We have to face these challenges.”
He added that the party is mindful of the public trust placed in it and wants to move forward in unity.
For now, the BNP stands on the threshold of government, with its MPs ready to take oath. Whether they will also step into the Constitution Reform Council depends, as party leaders suggest, on how many of those lingering ‘ifs’ turn into firm constitutional answers.