MPs' oath Tuesday morning, cabinet's in afternoon

A new government takes office tomorrow with post-uprising reform agenda through an open-air swearing-in ceremony, to be attended by foreign dignitaries, including India's Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Speaker Om Birla will represent New Delhi at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh's newly elected government in Dhaka on Tuesday, India's ministry of external affairs confirmed.
In a statement issued Sunday, the ministry said Birla would attend the inauguration of the government led by Tarique Rahman, chair of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), following the party's landslide victory in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections.
"The Hon'ble Speaker's participation at this important event underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh, reaffirming India's steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind our two nations," the statement reads.
It adds that, as neighbours united by shared history, culture and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh's transition to an elected government under Rahman's leadership, whose "vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people".
The BNP secured an absolute majority in the up-and-coming parliament, paving the way for Rahman to assume office as prime minister.
The new cabinet is scheduled to take oath at 4:00pm tomorrow (Tuesday) at the South Plaza of
the Jatiya Sangsad.
According to officials, Members of Parliament will be sworn in earlier in the day, at 10am.
Law adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters at the secretariat Sunday that the chief election commissioner is expected to administer oath to the newly elected MPs.
The BNP has indicated that its parliamentary party leader - effectively the prime minister-designate - will be elected around 11.30am or noon the same day.
The swearing in of the cabinet in the afternoon is expected to be administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, according to the law adviser. Holding the ceremony at the parliament's South Plaza was proposed by the BNP, he added.
Diplomatic attention will focus not only on India's representation but also on the presence of regional dignitaries. The outgoing chief adviser of the post-uprising government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has invited heads of government from 13 countries, including China, India and Pakistan, to attend the ceremony.
Foreign ministers from Saarc member-states have also been invited, underscoring the regional significance of the political transition.
As Dhaka prepares for the formal transfer of power, Tuesday's ceremony is shaping up to be both a domestic milestone and a regional diplomatic moment, signalling the start of a new government under Tarique Rahman amid close scrutiny from neighbouring capitals.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com