Staff Reporter
MPs-elect belonging to the BNP and its allies-Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Jatiya Party are likely to take oath tomorrow (Wednesday).
Outgoing Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar made the broad hint while talking to reporters yesterday. “I’ll administer oath to the BNP MPs-elect on Jan 14, as per constitutional guidelines,” he mentioned.
The Speaker said BNP’s MPs-elect have expressed their eagerness to take oath on January 14 and he may administer oath to them on the day.
Earlier, on January 4 after swearing in of the Independent MPs-elect, Barrister Sircar had told reporters that as per rules he would not be able to administer oath to anyone from then.
He had referred to Article 148 of the Constitution saying that if the Speaker is unable to administer oath to newly elected MPs within three days of the election results being published by gazette, they must take oath from the Chief Election Commissioner or thereafter from the new Speaker.
“But I was not unable or indisposed to administer oath to the newly-elected lawmakers. I administered oath to MPs of Awami League and other parties. Therefore, the article does not restrict me from administering oath to the BNP legislators-elect,” the Speaker said.
He further said there was no clear-cut directive in the Constitution whether the newly elected lawmakers would be required to take oath from the new Speaker if they fail to take oath within six days from either the Speaker or the CEC.
Courtesy: nation.ittefaq.com
