Dhaka, Feb 16 (.) The elected representatives of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament are set to take their oath as Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday, though uncertainty continues to linger over their swearing in ceremony, as increased doubts have risen over whether they will also be partaking in a second oath as members of the proposed Constitution Reform Council.
While the National Parliament Secretariat has completed preparations for both ceremonies, senior leaders within the BNP, currently slated to form the government after winning with a landslide majority, have signalled increasing reservations about proceeding with the second oath.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, multiple BNP sources said that the party believes it would be “logical to follow what is clearly stated in the existing constitution,” which provides only for the oath of members of parliament.
The constitution makes no mention of a Constitution Reform Council. “If such a body is ever incorporated into the constitution, then the question of a separate oath would arise,” one senior BNP figure said, reflecting internal discussions.
Additionally, Kaniz Mowla, Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat, making comments to the news group on Sunday night said that the newly elected representatives would take two oaths on February 17 – one as members of parliament and another as members of the Constitution Reform Council – adding, “Preparations have been made accordingly.”
The July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, endorsed through a national referendum, mandates the formation of a Constitution Reform Council comprising the newly elected MPs. The order also includes a prescribed oath format for council members.
However, BNP leaders have been raising questions on the order’s validity from the outset, especially regarding the legal foundation of the implementation order.
With the BNP commanding a decisive majority in parliament, its position is expected to shape the immediate trajectory of constitutional reform.
Whether the second oath proceeds as planned on Tuesday could determine not only the pace of reform but also the balance between constitutional procedure and referendum-backed political commitments in the days ahead.
The swearing-in ceremony for MPs is scheduled for Tuesday morning at the National Parliament. The cabinet is expected to take the oath later in the afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex.

Officials at the Secretariat confirmed that logistical arrangements are in place for both the parliamentary oath and the separate oath for the reform council.
As per procedure, MPs sign the oath book immediately after taking their oath. Prescribed forms for the parliamentary oath are being prepared constituency-wise.
In addition, the schedule attached to the July Charter Implementation Order provides the format for the reform council oath, and these documents are also being readied.
However, BNP insiders suggested on Monday that the party’s 209 elected MPs, along with three allied lawmakers, may refrain from taking the second oath after being sworn in as parliamentarians.
If their decision is finalised, the formation of the Constitution Reform Council could be delayed for an unforeseen extent of time.
The issue reflects broader political divisions over the controversial document itself, given its rather vague and obscure nature.
While the BNP has expressed differences of opinion on several of the charter’s constitutional reform proposals, other major parties such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party (NCP) have thrown their full weight behind its implementation.
Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, speaking to reporters in Kishoreganj on Sunday, said the referendum outcome must be respected in full, remarking, “The referendum on reforms must be accepted in its entirety. We do not want to see any fragmented part of it implemented.” . . KK