Breaking away from tradition, the cabinet swearing-in ceremony will not be held at Bangabhaban’s Darbar Hall. In a first-ever move, the incoming government will kick off its journey in the open air, as cabinet members are set to take their oath of office at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday afternoon. The newly elected MPs will also be sworn in at the same location in the morning.
The decision was confirmed by various sources from the Chief Adviser’s Office, Cabinet Division, and Parliament Secretariat to The Daily Star. Plans are in motion to conduct the MPs’ oath ceremony at 10:00 am and the cabinet’s oath ceremony at 4:00 pm on Tuesday.
Traditionally, MPs are sworn in at the parliament’s oath room, while the cabinet members take their oath at Bangabhaban’s Darbar Hall. However, this time, both ceremonies will be consolidated at the parliament’s south plaza, as per the preference of the incoming government.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the prime minister and cabinet members, while either Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin or Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury will administer the oath to the MPs.
A gazette notification issued by the Election Commission last night confirmed the winners in 297 of the 299 constituencies where polling took place. With its alliance securing 212 seats, BNP is poised to form the government, obtaining a more than two-thirds majority in Thursday’s election. The 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, securing 77 seats, will constitute the opposition.
Cabinet Division sources highlighted that since independence, every government has been sworn in at Bangabhaban. An official involved in the preparations, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that the MPs’ oath entails minimal formality.
“A cabinet swearing-in involves inviting local and foreign dignitaries, providing hospitality, and coordinating various aspects for the prime minister, ministers, and state ministers,” added the official.
In light of this sudden decision, officials are reconfiguring every aspect of the ceremony. Another source familiar with the process commented, “It is customary to accommodate the preferences of the incoming administration. However, orchestrating such a significant event on short notice presents its challenges. We are exerting our utmost to ensure a seamless ceremony.”
In response to the situation, writer, researcher, and former Secretary Abdul Awal Mazumder pointed out that the July charter was signed at the parliament’s South Plaza.
“The new government likely aims to take their oath in front of the public,” Mazumder shared with The Daily Star.
“While it is unprecedented for a government to be sworn in outside Bangabhaban, there is no restriction on establishing a novel tradition,” he added. “In the United States, the president addresses the citizens immediately after the oath in an open-air setting. It will be interesting to see if Bangladesh’s next prime minister, Tarique Rahman, follows a similar path.”