Jamaat MPs take both parliamentary, reform council oaths

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami joined the oath-taking ceremony on Tuesday and proceeded with both oaths, despite earlier uncertainty over its position.

Party leaders and newly elected MPs arrived at the Parliament premises shortly after 12 noon. The swearing-in followed the morning ceremony where BNP lawmakers took their oath as members of parliament.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s newly elected MP Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem wrote on his verified Facebook page ahead of the ceremony: “We are taking two oaths! I will give Jan… I will give July!!”

Earlier, after BNP MPs declined to take the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, leaders of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance had indicated they might also refrain from taking either oath.

Central Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad told BBC Bangla that the alliance would decide its course of action after internal discussions. He questioned how the process would unfold if one major party opted out of the reform council oath while the two oaths were scheduled to be administered simultaneously.

A letter from the Election Commission on Monday confirmed that the Chief Election Commissioner would administer both the parliamentary and Constitutional Reform Council oaths on the same day.

BNP MPs took their oath at 10:45 am. As per schedule, Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers and one MP from the NCP were slated to take their oaths at 12 noon.