United News of Bangladesh

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Sunday said the idea of holding the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet members at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad was initially expressed by BNP. “My understanding is that this parliament is somewhat different. We attained this parliament through the sacrifices of students and the masses in July, through a mass uprising marked by immense sacrifice, hardship, pain and loss of lives. That is why this parliament is a little different from all others,” he told reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Besides, many historic events, including the July Declaration and the July Charter, have taken place in the parliament complex, said the adviser. “The South Plaza of this parliament is particularly memorable to us for various reasons. The funeral prayer of our late leader Begum Khaleda Zia was held at a nearby place as was the funeral of our beloved martyr Osman Hadi,” he added. Asif Nazrul said South Plaza had also emerged as a venue for documenting various aspects of the July mass uprising. “Considering all these factors, they perhaps expressed this intention, and we arranged it accordingly.” The adviser said a farewell meeting was held earlier in the day but no major decisions were taken. “We reflected on our work, shared experiences, and informed everyone about the oath programme. It was more like a final meeting together.” “The cabinet oath-taking ceremony will be held at the South Plaza at 4pm. As far as I know, the President is scheduled to administer the oath,” Nazrul said. Asked about invitees, he said those customarily invited under convention would be invited and the Cabinet Division is handling the matter. On whether the Indian Prime Minister would attend, he said he had no such information. “What I have heard so far is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the foreign ministers of SAARC countries. I have no information about any Prime Minister attending,” he said. When asked about speculations that he might be included in the next cabinet the Law Adviser said, “There is no question at all.”  

The newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) will take oath on Tuesday morning, while the new cabinet members will be sworn in later in the afternoon. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath to the newly elected MPs at 10am at Parliament, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told UNB on Saturday night. He said President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the cabinet members at 4pm at the South Plaza of Parliament. Tarique pledges justice, seeks unity to build ‘safe, humane Bangladesh’ As per the rules, following the swearing-in of the MPs, a meeting of the Parliamentary Board of the party that secured the majority will be held to elect its parliamentary leader. The party leader will then meet the President and inform him that the party commands an absolute majority in Parliament, formally seeking appointment as the head of government. The President will appoint the party leader as Prime Minister, who will subsequently select members of the cabinet.  The President will administer the oath first to the Prime Minister, followed by the ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers. After the oath-taking ceremony, the Cabinet Division will issue a notification allocating the portfolios. Convincing people was BNP’s ‘engineering’, says Tarique Rahman Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony are underway, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid told reporters at the Secretariat on Saturday.  “Around 1,000 guests are expected to be invited to the ceremony,” he added. The 13th national election was held on Thursday, alongside a referendum. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 parliamentary seats in the election.  

President-elect Joe Biden is naming Susan Rice as director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, giving her broad sway over his administration’s approach to immigration, health care and racial inequality and elevating the prominence of the position in the West Wing.

Election to any city corporation will have to be held within three months instead of the existing six months before the expiry of its tenure, according to the draft of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Bill, 2020.