Newly elected MPs of Bangladesh’s 13th Parliament take oath today at Jatiya Sangsad, administered by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, amid constitutional debate over the simultaneous swearing-in of the Constitution Reform Council under the July National Charter 2025.
Newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) are set to take oath today as representatives of the 13th Parliament of Bangladesh, marking a significant political transition following the recently concluded national election. The oath-taking ceremony will also include their swearing-in as members of the Constitution Reform Council under the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025.
The ceremony will be administered by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in accordance with constitutional provisions, as the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently vacant. The swearing-in will take place at the oath-taking room of the Jatiya Sangsad in Dhaka.
Oath Schedule and Administrative Arrangements
According to Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Moula, MPs-elect from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will take their oath at 10:00 am, while those from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will be sworn in at 12:00 pm.
“The elected representatives will take oath both as Members of Parliament and as members of the Constitution Reform Council at the same event,” she confirmed during a media briefing on Monday evening.
In preparation for the ceremony, the Election Commission formally communicated with the Parliament Secretariat. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed sent a letter requesting necessary arrangements to facilitate the oath administration by the Chief Election Commissioner.
Following the ceremony, newly elected MPs will sign the official oath book and provide fingerprints, photographs, and digital signatures to enable the issuance of their digital identity cards, Parliament officials said.
Constitutional Reform Council Sparks Debate
Despite the procedural clarity surrounding the parliamentary oath, the inclusion of the Constitution Reform Council in the ceremony has generated constitutional debate.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed raised concerns over whether the oath for the Constitution Reform Council can legally be administered at this stage. He argued that the Third Schedule of the Constitution specifies oath formats for various constitutional offices, including Members of Parliament, but does not mention any oath for members of a Constitution Reform Council.
“If the Constitutional Reform Council is incorporated into the Constitution through an amendment, and if a specific oath format is included in the Third Schedule with a designated authority to administer it, only then could such a process take place,” he stated while responding to journalists.
Ahmed also emphasized that the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission is primarily to conduct national parliamentary and presidential elections, suggesting that administering an oath for a newly formed council may extend beyond its traditional mandate.
Election Results and Political Landscape
The 13th parliamentary election and referendum on the July National Charter Implementation Order 2025 were held on February 12 across 299 of the country’s 300 constituencies in what officials described as a festive and peaceful atmosphere.
The Election Commission published a gazette notification on Friday declaring 297 elected candidates. However, results in Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 were withheld due to court orders, while the election in Sherpur-3 was earlier cancelled following the death of a candidate.
In the final tally, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured 209 seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. Smaller parties and independent candidates also gained representation. The National Citizen Party secured six seats, independent candidates won seven, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish obtained two, Islami Andolan Bangladesh secured one, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho) gained one, Ganaodhikar Parishad won one, Ganasamhati Andolan secured one, and Khelafat Majlish claimed one seat.
Overall, the BNP-led electoral alliance achieved victory in 212 constituencies, while the Jamaat-led alliance won 77 seats.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, who won from multiple constituencies, has chosen to retain the Dhaka-17 seat and vacate Bogura-6, prompting a by-election in that constituency.
Legal Framework for Oath Administration
Under Article 148 (2A) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, newly elected MPs must take their oath within three days of the publication of election results in the official Gazette. Traditionally, the Speaker administers the oath. However, in the absence or inability of the designated authority, the Chief Election Commissioner assumes this responsibility within the following three days.
The July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025 stipulates that representatives elected in the general election shall simultaneously act as Members of Parliament and as members of the Constitution Reform Council. The Order further states that the authority entitled to administer the oath of MPs will also administer the oath of Council members.
According to the Implementation Order, the Constitution Reform Council is mandated to complete constitutional reform processes within 180 working days from its formation. Once the reforms outlined in the July National Charter are implemented in line with the referendum mandate, the Council’s tenure will automatically end.
Historical Context of Bangladesh Parliaments
The formation of the 13th Parliament adds another chapter to the country’s parliamentary history. Since independence, Bangladesh has experienced varying parliamentary tenures. The first Parliament served from April 7, 1973, to November 6, 1975, lasting just over two and a half years. Subsequent parliaments have seen diverse durations, with some completing nearly full five-year terms and others dissolved prematurely.
The 11th Parliament served from January 30, 2019, to January 6, 2024, while the 12th Parliament lasted from January 10, 2024, to August 6, 2024, spanning only six months and 27 days.
The swearing-in of the 13th Parliament, therefore, represents both continuity and transition in Bangladesh’s evolving democratic framework.
Political Significance and Public Expectations
Today’s oath-taking ceremony is being closely watched not only for its ceremonial value but also for its constitutional implications. With the simultaneous activation of the Constitution Reform Council, Bangladesh enters a critical phase of potential structural transformation.
Political observers suggest that the coming months will determine how effectively the new Parliament balances legislative responsibilities with the ambitious constitutional reform agenda outlined in the July National Charter.
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As the newly elected MPs prepare to assume office, expectations remain high among citizens for political stability, institutional reform, and responsive governance. The successful implementation of constitutional reforms within the stipulated 180-day period could significantly reshape the country’s legal and political landscape.
The oath-taking ceremony today, therefore, is more than a procedural formality—it marks the beginning of a decisive chapter in Bangladesh’s parliamentary democracy.
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