BNP lawmakers have not taken the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, according to a report published on February 17, 2026. The party stated that a decision on the matter will be made after the parliamentary session begins. Before taking their oath as MPs, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed reiterated the party’s stance near the Parliament complex on Tuesday morning.

Salahuddin Ahmed explained that the Chief Election Commissioner holds the constitutional authority to administer the oath to members of the 13th Parliament. However, he noted that it has not yet been determined who will administer the oath to members of the Constitutional Reform Council. He added that constitutional amendments and related matters must be settled before such an oath can take place.

He further clarified that if the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is unavailable or unable to perform the duty, the Chief Election Commissioner may administer the oath. The BNP maintains that the issue will be reconsidered once the parliamentary session is underway.

The trial of seven accused, including suspended Awami League general secretary and former minister Obaidul Quader, begins today in connection with alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising killings. The proceedings are being held at Tribunal-2, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with two other judges, retired district judge Md Manjurul Basid and district judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir. The tribunal is scheduled to hear opening statements and record the first witness testimony.

Formal charges were framed on January 22, and the tribunal set February 17 for the trial’s opening. All accused are absconding, including Awami League joint general secretary A F M Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain, and general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan. The prosecution previously detailed individual responsibilities, while defense lawyers denied involvement and sought dismissal of charges.

Law enforcement failed to locate the accused after arrest warrants were issued, leading the tribunal to appoint state defense lawyers and publish notices in newspapers. The formal complaint was filed on December 18 last year.

Members of Parliament from the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance have insisted on taking two oaths—one as MPs and another as members of the Constitutional Reform Council—before assuming office. They have declared that they will not take the parliamentary oath unless both are administered. The issue has created procedural complications within the parliament building, where representatives from the BNP, Jamaat, and the outgoing government are holding discussions to resolve the impasse. The swearing-in of Jamaat MPs is scheduled for noon.

BNP MPs, led by Tarique Rahman, took their parliamentary oath earlier at 10:40 a.m. but did not take the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council. Jamaat MPs, including Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, are currently present in the parliament building awaiting a decision. The situation has drawn attention as the new parliamentary session faces delays due to the dispute over the dual oath demand.

If the issue remains unresolved, the start of parliamentary activities could be further delayed, depending on the outcome of ongoing discussions among the political groups involved.

BNP’s newly elected members of the 13th National Parliament took their oaths on Tuesday morning at the Parliament Building, administered by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin. Following the ceremony, the party held a parliamentary meeting where Tarique Rahman was elected as the parliamentary party leader. The BNP members did not take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.

Later in the day, at 4 p.m., the cabinet is scheduled to take oath at the South Plaza of the Parliament Building. After the party’s landslide victory in the February 12 election, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to be sworn in as the new Prime Minister. This marks the party’s return to power for the sixth time after nearly two decades without democratic governance. Tarique Rahman, who previously played a key role in BNP’s 2001 victory, is credited as the architect of this electoral success.

BNP won 209 parliamentary seats, though one seat was vacated following Rahman’s resignation from Bogura-6, and two others remain pending due to court cases. The party may include allied MPs as state ministers in the new cabinet.

Newly elected members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took their oaths on Tuesday morning at the parliament building’s oath room, administered by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin. The ceremony followed the party’s landslide victory in the 13th national parliamentary election. However, BNP lawmakers did not take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. Later in the day, at 4 p.m., the cabinet will be sworn in at the South Plaza of the parliament, where BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to take oath as the new Prime Minister.

The BNP is returning to power for the sixth time after nearly two decades of what the report described as a democracy-free period. The February 12 election saw the party win two-thirds of the seats, marking a historic victory. Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is credited as the architect of this electoral success, echoing his role in the 2001 landslide. A total of 209 BNP MPs were elected, though one seat was vacated and two others remain pending due to legal issues.

BNP’s parliamentary meeting is expected to finalize leadership roles, including deputy leader, chief whip, and six whips, while coalition partners may be invited to join the cabinet as state ministers.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which won the 13th National Parliamentary Election, has called a parliamentary party meeting following the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Parliament Building, according to BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, who announced the plan on Tuesday morning.

Ahmed stated that the meeting will elect the leader of the parliamentary party. As the leader of the majority party, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to become the Prime Minister. The announcement follows the completion of the 13th National Election and referendum held on February 12, with the Election Commission publishing the gazette of 297 winners out of 299 constituencies the following day.

The meeting marks the first formal gathering of BNP’s parliamentary team after the election, signaling the beginning of the party’s organizational activities in the new parliament.

BNP has decided that its elected Members of Parliament will not take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council at this stage. The party will reconsider the matter after the parliamentary session begins. The announcement was made on Tuesday morning near the Parliament complex by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, who outlined the party’s official position.

Salahuddin explained that the Chief Election Commissioner holds the constitutional authority to administer oaths to newly elected MPs of the 13th Parliament. However, it has not yet been determined who will administer the oath for members of the Constitutional Reform Council. He further stated that constitutional mandates exist for both the national parliamentary and presidential elections, and the Election Commission is constitutionally responsible for the parliamentary process.

He added that if the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is unavailable or unable to perform the duty, the Chief Election Commissioner may serve as an alternative to administer the oath. Salahuddin noted that the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council can only proceed after certain constitutional amendments and related matters are finalized.

In the 13th national election, the Jatiya Party faced a sweeping defeat in its traditional stronghold of Rangpur, losing deposits in all five constituencies where it fielded candidates. The party’s nomination for Rangpur-1 was canceled due to dual citizenship, leaving it to contest in Rangpur-2 through Rangpur-6. Despite extensive campaigning, all candidates, including party chairman GM Quader in Rangpur-3, failed to secure sufficient votes to retain their deposits.

In Rangpur-2, former MP Anisul Islam Mandal received 33,930 votes, while GM Quader obtained 43,790 votes out of 500,000 in Rangpur-3. Other candidates—Mahbubur Rahman in Rangpur-4, Fakhruzzaman Jahangir in Rangpur-5, and Nur Alam Jadu Mia in Rangpur-6—also lost their deposits, with the latter receiving only 1,200 votes. A presidium member admitted they had expected support from Awami League voters but were shocked by the poor results.

Student leader Ahmed Al Saba Osmani commented that Rangpur voters rejected the Jatiya Party for aligning with the Awami League, declaring the party politically finished in the region.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman was on his way to the National Parliament building on Tuesday morning to take his oath as a newly elected Member of Parliament. He left his residence in Gulshan around 9:45 a.m. for the ceremony. The oath-taking is being conducted by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Parliament Secretariat’s oath-taking chamber, beginning at 10 a.m. on February 17, 2026.

According to a letter signed by Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and sent to the Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat on Monday, the CEC will administer the oath to the members elected to the 13th National Parliament and the members of the Constitution Reform Council. The BNP parliamentary party also scheduled a meeting at 11:30 a.m. following the ceremony.

BNP MPs, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, took their oaths, though the party’s MPs did not participate in the Constitution Reform Council’s oath-taking process.

The BNP-backed Lawyers’ Welfare Council panel won 10 out of 15 posts, including president and general secretary, in the Feni District Lawyers’ Association election held on February 16, 2026. The results were announced around 12:30 a.m. on February 17 by election commissioner and association president Nurul Amin Khan along with general secretary Mir Mosharraf Hossain Manik. Jamaat-backed Lawyers’ Sampriti Parishad secured four posts, while one position went to an independent candidate.

Voting took place in a festive atmosphere at the association building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with 326 of 346 eligible lawyers casting their votes. A total of 32 candidates contested for 15 posts in the one-year committee. This was the first time BNP and Jamaat participated in the election under separate panels since the association’s founding in 1984.

The Awami League panel did not participate for the second consecutive term. The election, originally scheduled for January 17, was postponed due to national elections and later rescheduled to February 16 following an extraordinary general meeting of members.

After the 13th parliamentary election, discussions have intensified within Bangladesh’s police administration over who will be appointed the next Inspector General of Police (IGP). Although current IGP Baharul Alam dismissed rumors of his resignation, his contract runs until November 21, 2026. A police headquarters official indicated that a new IGP may be appointed once the newly elected political government assumes office.

According to the report, three senior officers are leading the race: RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, Armed Police Battalion chief Ali Hossain Fakir, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Additional IGP Hasib Aziz. Meanwhile, Railway Police chief Barrister Zillur Rahman is being discussed as a possible candidate for the RAB Director General post. Sources said several officers have been lobbying actively, meeting political figures and presenting their credentials.

Officials noted that the next IGP is expected to be a professional, honest, and controversy-free officer. Many previously sidelined or forcibly retired officers are seeking contract-based reappointments and await evaluation by the new government.

A four-tier security arrangement has been implemented around the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament complex ahead of the new government’s oath-taking ceremony. Around 15,000 personnel from the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), army, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed. Specialized units including SWAT, bomb disposal, and canine teams are on standby. The oath chamber has been refurbished, with chairs polished and replaced where necessary. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, with members of parliament taking their oaths in the morning and the new cabinet in the afternoon.

Security measures have been strengthened and modernized to ensure the safety of key installations and VVIPs. The South Plaza’s roof and brick surfaces have been repaired due to deterioration. Bomb disposal and dog squads have already swept the area, and plainclothes intelligence officers are stationed at key points. The National Parliament Secretariat’s secretary, Kaniz Mowla, confirmed the schedule for the oath events.

The enhanced security and infrastructure repairs reflect heightened caution following past unrest, including incidents during the August 2024 mass uprising.

Newly elected members of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament are taking their oath today, February 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. The ceremony is being held in the oath-taking chamber of the National Parliament Secretariat, administered by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin. Elected MPs began arriving at the Parliament complex early in the morning, where the area has been fully prepared for the event with heightened security measures.

According to on-site observations, the Parliament area has taken on a festive atmosphere, with party leaders, activists, and members of the public gathering outside. Law enforcement agencies remain on alert to ensure order. MPs stated that this Parliament is different from previous ones, emphasizing that the people have established a government through their votes and expressing unity against fascism. They also voiced a collective commitment to building a better Bangladesh.

The oath ceremony will proceed in several phases, with different political parties and independent MPs taking their oaths separately before signing the official register. No guests will attend. Later in the afternoon, the new cabinet will also take its oath at Parliament, a departure from the usual venue of Bangabhaban.

Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, the BNP Joint Secretary General and Member of Parliament from Lakshmipur-3 constituency, has been invited to take oath as a member of the BNP government’s cabinet. The invitation was conveyed to him by telephone from the Cabinet Division on Tuesday morning, according to a close source. The swearing-in of the newly elected members of the 13th Parliament is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, followed by the cabinet’s oath-taking ceremony in the afternoon.

Annie, representing Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar Upazila), was previously elected to Parliament in 2001 and 2008. In the 13th national election, he secured his seat for the third time, receiving 133,765 votes. His nearest rival, Jamaat candidate Md. Rezaul Karim, obtained 117,079 votes.

The developments mark Annie’s return to a ministerial role under the BNP-led government, with formal cabinet appointments expected to follow the scheduled oath ceremonies later in the day.

Indian media outlets have voiced strong concern over the rise of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its alliance with the National Citizens Party (NCP) following the country’s 13th parliamentary election. Reports from India Today, Times of India, News18, and others described the Islamist party’s success—winning 68 seats alone and 77 with allies—as a potential threat to India’s national security, particularly in border districts adjoining Assam and West Bengal. Analysts cited the party’s ideological proximity to Pakistan and its anti-India stance as reasons for heightened vigilance.

Several reports noted that Jamaat and its allies performed strongly in border regions such as Lalmonirhat, Chapainawabganj, Kurigram, Meherpur, and Satkhira, areas where Indian outlets claim strategic and demographic sensitivities exist. Former Eastern Command GOC Lt. Gen. Ranapratap Kalita told India Today that Jamaat leveraged latent anti-India sentiment in rural and frontier areas to achieve its gains. Indian intelligence agencies are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.

Media commentary suggested that New Delhi should work with Bangladesh’s ruling BNP to contain Jamaat’s influence and ensure border stability and minority safety, reflecting India’s growing unease over the political shift in Dhaka.