BNP MPs in Bangladesh refuse to take oath on constitutional reform, Jamaat threatens

Updated: 17-02-2026, 09.12 AM

What is the news?

After the 13th national parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, the swearing-in ceremony of MPs is going on at Jatiya Sansad Bhawan on Tuesday, in which a fresh controversy has arisen. In fact, the MPs of Tariq Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which won the elections, have taken the oath of office, but have not taken the oath related to the referendum constitutional reform. Regarding this, the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami has threatened to protest and take to the streets.

Why did BNP MPs not take the oath to reform the Constitution?

On BNP MPs not even taking oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said that following Tariq’s instructions, all elected BNP MPs have been asked not to sign the Constitution Reform Council forms as they have not been elected as members of the council. Salauddin said that ‘Constitution Reform Council’ is not included in the Constitution. The Council should first be included in the Constitution.

Jamaat and NCP protest against BNP’s decision

BNP leader Salauddin also said that the Election Commissioner is administering the oath to the MPs, but who will administer the oath to the members of the Constitutional Reform Council has not been revealed yet. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naib-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Tahir said that if BNP MPs will not take the oath for constitutional reform, then the bail candidates will also not take any oath. Jamaat’s ally National Citizen Party (NCP) has also opposed BNP’s stand.

What is Constitutional Reform Council?

A referendum was also held in Bangladesh along with the parliamentary elections on 12 February, in which 62 percent of the people voted in favor of amendments to reform the constitution. This amendment came out in the form of ‘July Charter’ after the movement in July 2024, in which the powers of the Prime Minister have been weakened and there is talk of creating an Upper House. The constitution will be changed within 180 days after the council members are formed.