In a significant political move in Bangladesh, newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) were formally sworn in today in an oath-taking ceremony held in the country’s capital city, Dhaka. This marks the beginning of the new term in parliament following the recently held general elections in the country.
In the oath-taking ceremony, which is in line with the country’s Constitution, the newly elected MPs were administered the oath of office and allegiance by the Speaker of the Parliament. The newly elected MPs pledged their allegiance to the Constitution and promised to uphold democracy and serve the nation with integrity and honesty. The oath-taking ceremony saw the country’s top political leaders, government officials, and members of the press in attendance.
Though the swearing-in ceremony of the MPs was completed successfully, the event also saw the introduction of a new political development. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the major political parties in the country, chose to stay away from the swearing-in ceremony of the MPs in relation to the proposed Constitution Reform Commission. The BNP leaders made it clear that though they respect the procedures, they are not in favor of the process without the consensus of all the political parties in the country.
The Constitution Reform Commission has been mooted to suggest potential changes to the important provisions of the constitution. According to the government sources, the commission will work to modernize the governance system, strengthen the democratic institutions, and increase the degree of accountability in the system. The potential areas to be examined by the commission will include the reforms in the election system, the balance of power between the different organs of the government, the independence of the judiciary, and the parliamentary oversight mechanism, among others.
Though the formation of the commission has been mooted, the BNP has expressed its reservations about the process and the potential impact on the constitution. The leaders of the BNP have made it clear that the reforms to the constitution can be made by holding dialogue with all the political parties in the country and by ensuring the participation of all the major political groups.
Political analysts speculate that the BNP’s move to boycott the second oath may be an indicator of a more aggressive opposition attitude in the new parliament. Although the BNP has taken the oath as elected members of parliament, the party’s refusal to participate in the reform commission highlights the existing mistrust between the ruling elite and the opposition party.
Despite the stalemate, the swearing-in of parliamentarians officially commences the legislative process. The new parliament will be expected to set up standing committees, elect important office-bearers, and commence discussions on critical issues of national importance. Some of the issues expected to be taken up by the parliament include the economy, inflation, job generation, infrastructure development, and institutional reform.
Public response to the oath-taking ceremony has been mixed. The supporters of the ruling alliance have hailed the event as a new beginning for governance and democratic tradition. The supporters of the opposition party, meanwhile, have renewed their call for greater transparency in governance.
As the parliament begins its new session, the focus will now be on the government’s response to reform initiatives and whether the government will be able to engage the opposition in a bipartisan manner. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the government will be able to forge an alliance with the opposition or whether the politics of confrontation will dominate the landscape.
The oath-taking ceremony may have signaled the beginning of a new chapter in the legislative history of the country, but the debate surrounding the reform of the constitution will continue to keep the politics of Bangladesh alive and in the news.
