New Delhi, Feb 17 (NationPress) A heated debate erupted on Tuesday regarding a proposed Constitutional Reform Council, showcasing that even before the newly elected cabinet of Bangladesh could officially take office, it was already confronted with legal obstacles stemming from changes made by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, as reported by Bangladeshi media.

While members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took their oaths as parliamentarians, they refrained from swearing in as participants of a supposed Constitutional Reform Council, citing that “there is no such provision in the Constitution,” according to Dhaka’s Business Standard.

BNP Standing Committee Member and MP Salahuddin Ahmed articulated that in order to represent the wishes of the populace expressed in the referendum, it is essential first to enter Parliament and implement the necessary laws and constitutional reforms.

He emphasized that “all procedures must be conducted constitutionally,” asserting that their oath of office was given in accordance with constitutional stipulations.

He referenced Article 148(2A) of Bangladesh’s Constitution, stating that if the Speaker and Deputy Speaker cannot administer the oath, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is authorized to do so within three days.

Following this stipulation, the CEC administered the oaths to the MPs, as per his statement.

However, he pointed out that there is no constitutional basis for a Constitutional Reform Council, nor does the CEC hold the authority to administer oaths for such a body.

They contended that the interim government circumvented established legal frameworks, thereby undermining legitimacy. Once the Constitution is amended, the individual administering the oath and the format of the oath will be incorporated into the Third Schedule of the Constitution, added Salahuddin Ahmed.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party strongly criticized the BNP’s position and, together with its ally, the National Citizen Party (NCP), declared their intention not to participate in the cabinet swearing-in ceremony that occurred later that day.

This stance reflects the support that the interim government has received during its tenure since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August 2024.

The ongoing controversy highlights decisions that sought political legitimacy but lacked legal recognition.

The Jamaat has faced intermittent legal bans over its alleged pro-Pakistan stance during Bangladesh’s liberation war of 1971 and its hardline religious ideology. The ban was lifted during the interim government's tenure.

The NCP, founded in February 2025, emerged from the 2024 student-led uprising. Recognized as Bangladesh’s first student-led political party, it claims to be rooted in reformist and anti-corruption ideals. However, it is part of the 11 Party Alliance, a coalition led by the Jamaat that primarily adheres to Islamism and conservatism, with parties ranging from center to far-right on Bangladesh’s political spectrum.

The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government adopted the “July Charter” as a political and moral framework, drafted by civil society leaders, student groups, and reformists during the uprising. It outlines demands for establishing transparent, accountable institutions; ensuring fair elections under neutral oversight; limiting the tenure of Prime Ministerial candidates, and proposing a bicameral legislature, among other reforms.

The Constitutional Reform Council was specifically established to convert these principles into legal and constitutional reforms, serving as the institutional mechanism to actualize the vision of the July Charter. Out of the 300 seats in the Bangladesh Parliament, elections were conducted for 299 on February 12. As per media updates, counting has been finalized for 297 constituencies, with the BNP alliance winning 212, while the Jamaat and its allies secured 77, with the remainder going to others.