Zahidur takes oath as MP ignoring BNP's decision

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s MP-elect from Thakurgaon-3 constituency (Pirganj-Ranisankail) constituency Zahidur Rahman was sworn in on Thursday, ignoring the party decision.

Zahidur Rahman took oath at Jatiya Sangsad around 12:15pm. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath.

Prothom Alo tried to contact the new MP but found his mobile phone switched off.

BNP sticks to its decision not to join the parliament, alleging widespread irregularities in the election.

The party will take action against Zahidur for breaching party discipline , said BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy.
Those who will take the decision (to take oath) are enemies of the people, Gayeshwar said, adding, “It’s his (Zahidur) personal decision and party will take whatever measures necessary about this.”

Zahidur sent a letter to the parliament speaker in the morning expressing his wish to take oath, speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury’s personal secretary MA Kamal Billah told Prothom Alo.

Upon receiving the letter, the parliament secretariat organised the oath taking at noon, he added.

“We heard Zahidur Rahman went to the speaker to take oath. He didn’t discuss the matter with anyone of the party. We’re trying to contact him,” said BNP chairperson’s media wing officer Shayrul Kabir Khan.

A total of eight candidates -- six from the BNP and two from the Gono Forum -- were elected as MPs from the Jatiya Oikya Front, a coalition of the opposition parties, in the 11th parliamentary election held on 30 December 2018.

Zahidur Rahman won in the election bagging 88,510 votes, beating independent candidate Imdadul Haque who secured 84,385 votes.
Earlier on 7 March, Gono Forum candidate Sultan Mansur took oath as an MP. He was elected from Moulvibazar-2 constituency. Currently, he is a member of the parliamentary standing committee on the home ministry.

Gono Forum expelled Sultan Mansur for breaching party discipline.

Another Gono Forum MP-elect Mokabbir Khan, elected from Sylhet-2 constituency, also took oath on 2 April.