Online social media platforms have turned heated over the issue of the “July Charter” surrounding the swearing-in of the new government. On Facebook, Sarjis Alam — a defeated candidate of the 11-party alliance and Northern Chief Organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) — posted a status in a red banner criticizing the BNP for not taking oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council at the ceremony.

In his post, he wrote: “By betraying the July Charter and the aspirations of the uprising, the BNP government has begun its journey.”

The status, posted at 11:39 am on Tuesday, February 17, quickly went viral across social media. Earlier, at 11:30 am, following their oath as Members of Parliament, the BNP parliamentary party held a meeting chaired by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. After the meeting, a statement posted on BNP’s verified Facebook page announced that, having secured an absolute majority in the national parliamentary elections, Tarique Rahman had been unanimously elected as Leader of the House and Prime Minister.

In its first meeting, the BNP parliamentary party also decided that none of its MPs would accept duty-free cars or government-allocated plots.

NCP Boycotts Cabinet Swearing-In

However, the BNP’s decision not to take oath in the Constitutional Reform Council prompted the National Citizen Party (NCP) to boycott the cabinet swearing-in ceremony. This was confirmed in a post by NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain from his verified Facebook account.

Akhtar Hossain, the newly elected MP from Rangpur-4 (Kaunia-Pirgachha), stated that to honor the aspirations of July and the public mandate, NCP’s elected MPs were taking two consecutive oaths — one as Members of Parliament and another as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. At the same time, due to BNP’s refusal to take oath in the Constitutional Reform Council despite the referendum’s outcome, NCP decided not to attend the cabinet swearing-in ceremony scheduled for later in the afternoon.

Similarly, Abdullah Al Amin, Head of the Discipline Department of the National Citizen Party and newly elected MP from Narayanganj-4 in the 13th National Parliament election, wrote on his verified Facebook account that NCP’s elected representatives would take oath in both capacities — as MPs and as members of the Constitutional Reform Council — to respect the aspirations of the mass uprising and the people’s verdict. He added that since BNP had disregarded the public mandate and the July aspirations, NCP would abstain from the cabinet swearing-in ceremony.

Dual Oaths and Symbolic Gestures

Meanwhile, under the supervision of Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Mowla, newly elected members from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP took oath both as Members of Parliament and as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath to all.

In a symbolic departure from conventional formal attire, NCP’s Southern Chief Organizer Hasnat Abdullah appeared in a simple T-shirt and jeans to take the oath.

BNP Defends Constitutional Position

On the other hand, Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP Standing Committee member and newly elected MP from Cox’s Bazar-1, stated after taking oath as an MP that the BNP would implement the July Charter in letter and spirit. He said the party is committed to fulfilling the expectations of the people, who gave BNP an absolute mandate. According to him, effective initiatives would be undertaken immediately after forming the government to implement the commitments outlined in the July Charter.

Prior to the start of the oath-taking ceremony at the Parliament building, Salahuddin Ahmed informed party MPs that they would not take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. Holding up two forms — one white and one blue — he explained:

“We have not been elected as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, and it has not yet been incorporated into the Constitution. According to the referendum’s verdict, if a Constitutional Reform Council is formed, it must first be incorporated into the Constitution. There must also be a constitutional provision specifying who will administer the oath to its members. Such a form would need to be included in the Third Schedule of the Constitution. Only after being constitutionally adopted in Parliament can there be a provision for the oath of members of the Constitutional Reform Council. We have acted in accordance with the Constitution so far. We hope to continue doing so in the days ahead.”

Addressing party members further, he added, “On the instruction of the Honorable Chairman and in his presence, I have conveyed our party’s decision.”

Later, around 12:30 pm, responding to questions from journalists after taking oath at the National Parliament, Salahuddin Ahmed reiterated that there is no constitutional authority to administer an oath to members of a “Constitutional Reform Council” under the current framework.

“For that reason, no such process took place. We have come here following constitutional procedures. In the future as well, state governance will operate entirely within the constitutional structure,” he said.

DBTech/SH/EK/OR