Jamaat MPs take oath after boycott threat over BNP’s reform council snub

Party leaders had earlier indicated they might reconsider participating in the ceremony after the BNP refused to take the Constitution Reform Council oath

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers have taken their oath as members of the 13th parliament, despite earlier threatening to boycott the ceremony after the BNP declined to be sworn in as members of the Constitution Reform Council.

Jamaat MPs and independents began taking the oath shortly after noon on Tuesday at the parliament’s oath chamber.

Among those seen in the front row were Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman, party leaders ATM Azhar, Mujibur Rahman and Abdullah Mohammad Taher, along with former BNP leader and independent MP Rumeen Farhana.

The newly elected members signed the oath register at 12:24pm.

Rumeen, however, left the oath chamber at 12:26pm without taking the separate pledge as a member of the Constitution Reform Council.

At 12:27pm, Jamaat lawmakers proceeded to recite the oath as members of the reform council.

Earlier in the day, Jamaat leaders had indicated they might reconsider participating in the ceremony after the BNP refused to take the reform council oath, citing constitutional grounds.

In the Feb 12 election, the BNP secured an absolute majority with 209 seats. Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats and is set to sit as the opposition in parliament, while other parties and independent candidates won the remaining seats.

BNP lawmakers were sworn in on Tuesday as members of the 13th National Parliament but refused the separate oath linked to the proposed reform council, citing constitutional grounds.