The newly elected MPs are entering Parliament to take their oath

The newly elected Members of Parliament have begun arriving at the Parliament House premises ahead of the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, 17 February. From 9:00 a.m., official vehicles carrying MPs started entering through the main gates, marking the first step in a historic parliamentary transition.

The oath-taking is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. in the dedicated oath hall, where the Chief Election Commissioner, A.M.M. Nasir Uddin, will administer the official oath to all members. Following parliamentary tradition, the swearing-in will begin with the majority party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), whose elected MPs will take their oath first.

Security around the Parliament and its immediate surroundings has been significantly heightened for the occasion. Entry into the premises requires verification of the MPs’ national identity cards, ensuring that only authorised personnel gain access.

This marks a historic moment for the BNP, which is entering the Parliament after a gap of fifteen years. The party had boycotted the 2014 and 2024 general elections, while in 2018 it withdrew from participation mid-day citing alleged vote rigging. However, in the recent 13th National Parliamentary Elections held on 12 February, the BNP achieved a decisive victory, securing a majority mandate from the electorate.

For the first time in Bangladesh’s history, the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers will take place outdoors at the South Plaza of the Parliament House, under the open sky. The event has drawn thousands of domestic and international guests, underlining the significance of this landmark political moment.

International dignitaries from SAARC member states are attending the ceremony, including Maldives President Mohamed Muizz, India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Pakistan’s official representative, and foreign ministers or delegates from six other SAARC countries.

The Election Commission has provided the highest-level administrative officials with detailed directives to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. This includes the Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), secretaries of all ministries, divisional commissioners, district commissioners and superintendents of police, as well as the directors general of law enforcement and security agencies including the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Coast Guard.

Summary of Swearing-In Ceremony Details

The ceremony is being closely coordinated with all branches of administration and security to ensure a seamless and dignified transition of parliamentary authority.