The opposition parties say they are preparing to form shadow cabinets after BNP secured an absolute majority in the 13th parliamentary election held on Thursday.
BNP won 209 of 297 parliamentary seats, paving the way for its return to power after nearly two decades. Newly elected Members of Parliament and the incoming cabinet are scheduled to take their oaths on Tuesday.
As discussions continue over the composition of the new government, opposition leaders say they intend to establish shadow cabinets to monitor ministries and hold the administration accountable.
On Sunday, Asif Mahmud, spokesperson for National Citizen Party (NCP), said his party was preparing a shadow cabinet “to act as a watchdog for transparency and accountability, ensuring proper oversight of government actions”.
Mohammad Shishir Manir of Jamaat-e-Islami, the main opposition party, expressed a similar position.
“Even without being in government, we aim to deploy qualified teams to monitor key ministries, offer constructive input, and recognise effective initiatives,” he said. “If the government acts irresponsibly or violates laws, we will raise concerns inside and outside parliament. This is our vision of a shadow cabinet.”
In parliamentary systems, a shadow cabinet typically consists of senior opposition figures assigned to mirror government ministers.
A study published by Cambridge University Press, titled ‘The Shadow Cabinet in Westminster Systems: Modeling Opposition Agenda Setting’ in the House of Commons, 1832–1915, defines it as a team chosen by the leader of the opposition to scrutinise specific policy areas and challenge their counterparts in government.
In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, shadow cabinets routinely question ministers and present alternative policies, allowing the opposition to position itself as a government-in-waiting.
Political analysts say such structures can also serve as a training ground for future leaders, providing practical experience in administration, budgeting and policymaking.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer and constitutional expert Shahdeen Malik said the move reflects practices in established parliamentary democracies.
“Assigning a specific member to each ministry allows clearer responses on policy issues,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh. He added that dividing responsibilities in this way can improve public access to information and strengthen accountability, describing the proposal as a positive development.
Mamun Al Mostofa, a professor in the Political Science Department at University of Dhaka, said forming a shadow parliament would enable opposition parties to present alternative policies to voters.
He noted that if independent institutions remain neutral, citizens would be better positioned to assess competing approaches to governance.
Analysts caution, however, that the effectiveness of shadow cabinets depends on the presence of a robust and organised opposition capable of sustained scrutiny.
With BNP commanding a strong parliamentary majority, attention is likely to focus not only on the composition of the new cabinet, but also on whether opposition parties can coordinate effectively to perform an oversight role in the coming parliamentary term.
