Sangsad Bhaban getting ready to welcome new MPs

Sangsad Bhaban is preparing to welcome the new Members of Parliament as Bangladesh gets ready for a new government and parliament, a year and a half after the mass uprising.

Preparations are underway for the swearing-in ceremonies scheduled for Tuesday.

A tight security cordon has been established around the Sangsad Bhaban area, with barricades at all entrance gates, the main gate closed, and a large deployment of police, Ansar, and other law enforcement personnel on duty.

No one is being allowed inside due to these strict arrangements, though work continues visibly from the main road in front of the main building.

The swearing-in of the newly elected parliament members is set to take place at 10 am at the South Plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban, with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administering the oath.

Following that, the sworn-in members will hold a meeting on the ninth floor to elect the leader of the BNP parliamentary party, given BNP's achievement of an absolute majority.

The elected leader will then formally inform the President of the majority's confidence, after which the President will appoint him as Prime Minister in accordance with the rules and invite the formation of a new cabinet.

Later, at 4 pm on the same day, the new Prime Minister and cabinet members will take their oaths at the South Plaza, with the current President Md. Shahabuddin administering the oath as per constitutional provisions.

On Monday morning, various arrangements for these two ceremonies were visible in the Sangsad Bhaban area, including extensive cleaning and mopping inside the building and at the South Plaza, as well as preparations in the oath-taking room and rooms allocated to members.

Damaged sections from the mass uprising on August 5, 2024—when the Sangsad Bhaban was vandalised and looted alongside Ganabhaban—are being repaired.

The Cabinet Division and Parliament Secretariat began preparations for the swearing-in ceremonies starting from Saturday, two days after the election.

National Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Maula confirmed that all arrangements are in place for the morning swearing-in of parliament members and the afternoon ceremony for the new government.

The surrounding area remains largely normal, with shops operating as usual and regular traffic on the roads.

According to the constitution, elected members must take their oath within three days of the gazette publication. The Election Commission published the gazette on Friday night for the winners in 297 out of 299 seats in the thirteenth parliamentary election.

BNP secured an absolute majority by winning 209 seats, while the 11-party unity coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, a former ally, won 77 seats to take the opposition benches. Other parties and independent candidates claimed the remaining seats.