For all latest news, follow the Daily Sun's Google News channel.
Bangladesh’s new government will officially begin its journey today with the swearing-in of the Cabinet, with BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman set to be prime minister.
Newly elected Members of Parliament will also take their oath today in ceremonies marking a historic shift in tradition.
For the first time since independence, the swearing-in ceremony for the new prime minister and other Cabinet members will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban instead of Bangabhaban.
Meanwhile, the swearing-in of the newly MPs will be held at Parliament’s Oath Room.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the Cabinet members at 4pm, while Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will swear the MPs in at 10am.
Earlier, the July National Charter was signed at a function at the South Plaza.
The MPs’ oath-taking may be conducted in phases, with lawmakers taking the oath in groups. BNP MPs, including Tarique Rahman, will take their oath first, followed by those from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party, other parties, and independent ones, said Secretary of Parliament Secretariat Kaniz Mowla.
As per the rules, following the swearing-in of the MPs, a meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Board will be held to elect its Leader of the House. He will then meet the President and inform him that the party commands an absolute majority in Parliament, formally seeking appointment as the prime minister. The President will appoint the Leader of the House as PM, who will subsequently select members of the Cabinet.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday said the meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Board will be held at 11:30am at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban after the oath-taking ceremony of the MPs.
The President will immediately forward the list to the Cabinet Division, and the Cabinet secretary will personally call each designated Cabinet member, inviting them to attend the oath-taking ceremony. Official vehicles will also be sent to their residences. Later, the oath-taking of the Cabinet members will take place.
New Cabinet Secretary Dr Nasimul Ghani will conduct the oath-taking ceremony.
With the swearing-in of the Cabinet, the BNP government will take over power from the interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus.
The party secured 212 seats in the 13th parliamentary election held on Thursday, while the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance is going to be the Main Opposition in Parliament with 77 seats.
The Election Commission (EC) received a letter from the Parliament Secretariat requesting the CEC to administer the oath to the newly elected MPs, said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
As per the Constitution, elected MPs must take the oath within three days of the publication of the official gazette. The EC published the gazette on 14 February. The CEC is authorised to administer the oath in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Both are facing cases linked to crimes against humanity committed during the 2024 mass uprising.
The Parliament Secretariat has requested the newly elected members to carry their NID card to participate in the swearing-in ceremony.
The Cabinet Division and the Parliament Secretariat have taken all-out preparations for the two oath-taking ceremonies.
The heads of government of at least 13 countries, including India and Pakistan, have been invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s new government. Around 1,200 domestic and foreign guests are expected to attend the ceremony.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and all other advisers of the interim government will also join the two oath-taking ceremonies. They will go to the swearing-in ceremony of the Cabinet with flag-carrying vehicles but return without flags.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, meanwhile, invited Bangladesh Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Maulana Muhibbullah Babunagari to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government as a guest.
According to the Cabinet Division and the Directorate of Government Accommodation, both official transport and ministerial housing are prepared for the incoming ministers.
On the other hand, the South Plaza and the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban have been renovated and decorated properly. Workers have polished and refurbished the chairs of the Oath Room, as several chairs went missing on 5 August 2024, the day ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country.
The green lawn in front of the Parliament Building now features marigolds, various species and colours of cosmos, and other flowers. Gardeners are watering the plants, and workers have trimmed the grass to enhance the beauty of the grounds.
More than 100 temporary shops have also been removed from Manik Mia Avenue. A strong presence of police, and members of Rapid Action Battalion and other law enforcement agencies is visible.
To ensure the security of this key installation and VVIPs ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, existing security measures have been strengthened and modernised.
Following requests from the Sergeant-at-Arms office, the authorities purchased modern security equipment to replace items that had been stolen. They also upgraded normal and emergency sub-main cables to handle increased electrical loads. Technicians installed LT switchgear and busbar trunking for four electrical substations on the ninth floor and carried out related electrical works.
Several meeting rooms inside the building have been beautified and the Parliament Television studio in the Ministers’ Hostel block rebuilt, which had been vandalised on 5 August. More than 800 computers and security devices that had been stolen have also been replaced.