A fresh split has emerged over the oath-taking of newly elected Members of Parliament and members of the Constitutional Reform Council following the 13th parliamentary election.
A notification issued by the Parliament Secretariat on Monday said both swearing-in ceremonies would take place on Tuesday morning, but political parties have taken conflicting positions.
Leaders of the BNP said they would first be sworn in as Members of Parliament. A section of leaders from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the BNP and the National Citizen Party (NCP) argued that, under the July Charter, two separate oaths should be administered on the same day.
They contend that, in line with the charter, they will serve not only as MPs but also as members of the Constitutional Reform Council for 180 days.
Addressing newly elected MPs on Tuesday, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said, “Jamaat-led alliance MPs will not compromise on implementing the July Charter. It has been achieved through the blood of thousands of martyrs.”
Outside the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan on Monday, party Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said, “Representatives will take oath on Tuesday as Members of Parliament.”
He said any oath for the Constitutional Reform Council would only be possible after it was incorporated into the Constitution and the format set out in the Third Schedule.
He added that it must also be constitutionally specified who would administer the oath, noting that conducting parliamentary elections is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission.
His comments triggered debate on social media. Hours later, a notification signed by Senior Assistant Secretary of the Legislative Branch of the Parliament Secretariat Ashiq Ahmed Tanvin Khan confirmed that both MPs and council members would be sworn in at 10am on Tuesday.
The NCP signed the July Charter on Monday. Briefing reporters afterwards, the party’s Member Secretary and newly elected MP Akhtar Hossain said the oath should first be taken as members of the Constitutional Reform Council and then as MPs.
He said both oaths should be administered under the leadership of the Chief Election Commissioner.
National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz said last week that elected MPs would automatically be considered members of the Constitutional Reform Committee for 180 days from the moment they took oath, and that the oath would be taken together.
Analysts said disputes over implementing the July Charter have persisted since the formation of the National Consensus Commission. Whether Tuesday’s ceremony proceeds smoothly or fuels fresh political controversy remains unclear.
However, many senior leaders from BNP and Jamaat are expected to seek a compromise, with many keen to avoid a dispute at the outset.
Referendum vote
The “Yes” vote won by a wide margin in the referendum held alongside the 13th parliamentary election on 12 February, paving the way for sweeping constitutional reforms.
What the ‘Yes’ victory means
With public approval secured, the constitutional reform proposals outlined in the July National Charter can now proceed to implementation.
The reforms aim to curb the concentration of executive power in the prime minister’s office and expand the president’s authority in certain areas. Under the current constitution, most executive powers are vested in the prime minister, while the president is required to act on the prime minister’s advice in almost all matters except appointing the prime minister and the chief justice.
If enacted, appointments to key constitutional posts would be made through committees comprising representatives of the ruling party, the opposition and, in some cases, the judiciary. The changes also seek to strengthen MPs’ independence in parliamentary voting, promoting a more balanced distribution of power among state institutions.
Bicameral parliament and amendment rules
The proposals include establishing a bicameral parliament and tightening the constitutional amendment process. Under the proposed framework, no single party would be able to amend the constitution unilaterally. Any amendment would require the support of two-thirds of the lower house and a majority in the proposed upper house.
The upper chamber would be elected through proportional representation.
Background to the reforms
The July National Charter emerged from the July Uprising that led to the fall of the Awami League government.
An interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus took office on 8 August 2024, pledging wide-ranging reforms.
In October 2024, six reform commissions were formed to review the constitution, the electoral system, the judiciary, anti-corruption measures, the police and public administration. They identified 166 priority reform proposals.
To build political consensus, the National Consensus Commission began work on 15 February last year. After consultations with 30 political parties, it reached agreement on 84 proposals, including 48 requiring constitutional amendment. The remaining measures could be implemented through legislation or executive action, and some have already been enacted.
As constitutional changes cannot be introduced by ordinance, the referendum was held on the 48 constitutional proposals, 19 of which were designated as fundamental reforms.
Implementation process
The reform roadmap has three stages.
First, the president issued the “July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025” on 13 November last year. Second, the referendum secured public endorsement of the constitutional changes.
The third stage now begins with the formation of a Constitutional Reform Council in the next parliament.
Comprising elected MPs, the council must finalise the reforms within 180 working days of its first sitting. The implementation order does not specify the consequences if the deadline is not met.
Key proposed changes
Among the major proposals is a lifetime limit of 10 years for any individual serving as prime minister. Another seeks to bar the prime minister from simultaneously holding party leadership, a measure opposed by BNP.
The reforms would also grant the president authority to appoint the heads of key institutions — including theHuman Rights Commission, Information Commission, Press Council, Law Commission, Bangladesh Bank and the Energy Regulatory Commission — without requiring external recommendations.
