BNP MPs Decline Oath to Constitutional Reform Council

Salahuddin Ahmed, the newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Cox’s Bazar–1 and a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) standing committee, has confirmed that he and his party colleagues will not be taking the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.

Speaking on Tuesday morning at the National Parliament House ahead of the formal swearing-in ceremony for newly elected MPs, Salahuddin Ahmed stated, “None of us were elected as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.” He added that the decision reflects a formal party stance, emphasising, “The newly elected BNP MPs will not take the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. This is a collective, party-level decision.”

Salahuddin Ahmed clarified the legal context, noting that the council has yet to be explicitly recognised in the Constitution. “We have not been elected to the council, and the Constitution still does not formally include such a provision,” he said. “If the council is to be formed following the results of the national referendum, its establishment must first be codified in the Constitution. Only after that can its members legally take the oath.”

He further stressed that the oath-taking of council members can only be constitutionally mandated after parliamentary approval. “Currently, we are performing our duties strictly in accordance with the Constitution, and we will continue to do so in the future,” Salahuddin Ahmed said.

The Constitutional Reform process was initiated following the July national referendum, in which the ‘Yes’ vote prevailed, authorising amendments to the Constitution. Under the amendments, the Constitutional Reform Council is to be formed from the representatives elected to the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament). Initially, the process envisaged MPs taking their parliamentary oath, followed by an oath as council members. However, the BNP has indicated that its newly elected MPs will refrain from the second step until the legal framework is formally in place.

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Political analysts suggest that the reluctance of certain parties to participate in the council highlights the need for clearer guidelines on the process, particularly regarding the sequence of oath-taking and the legal standing of the Constitutional Reform Council. The unfolding situation may prompt further parliamentary debate to ensure that constitutional procedures are adhered to while maintaining political inclusivity.