Zahidur Rahman becomes first BNP MP in 11th parliament

The BNP MP-elect Zahidur Rahman has taken his oath of office in parliament on Thursday in defiance of the party’s decision against it.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhary swore Zahidur into parliament at her office at 12 pm in a ceremony moderated by Parliament Secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan.

Of the 300 candidates elected to the 11th parliament, 295 have now been sworn in, the Parliament Secretariat said.  Five BNP MPs-elect are yet to take their oaths.

“I have gone against the party’s decision by taking the oath. I did it despite knowing that the party may expel me. But I’m with the party regardless of whether I’m expelled,” said Zahid after taking his oath.

Zahidur said that he had contested the parliamentary elections on three other occasions before the Dec 30 polls. He became the first BNP candidate to win the Thakurgaon-3 constituency at the 11th parliamentary elections.