The two MPs-elect from Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gano Forum has expressed their interest in taking oath as lawmakers of the 11th National Parliament.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune on Monday (Jan 28), Sultan Md Mansur, who won the Moulvibazar-2 seat under the paddy sheaf symbol, said, “We have never said anything about not taking the oath to office.”
Referring to Gano Forum chief Kamal’s Jan 5 remarks of “thinking positively” on the issue, Mansur said, “That’s exactly our position. I do not know what the others (allies) are saying, but Dr Kamal Hossain has never said anything about not taking oath as MPs.”
Asked whether Gano Forum was joining the Parliament, the former Awami League leader said, “Amid great adversity, the people have elected us and it’s my duty to represent the people. In this situation, my role will be positive. I will discharge my duties.”
On speculations of his returning to the Awami League and a recent meeting with its chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Monsur said, “I have no knowledge on this.”
Sylhet-2 seat winner and Gono Forum candidate Mukabbir Khan, who contested with his party’s rising sun symbol’, echoed.
“Any decision on it is yet to be made. But I am positive about taking the oath to office … Dr Kamal Hossain has said earlier that he too was positive, which probably means we are taking the oath,” he told Bangla Tribune.
The Awami League has won 257 seats in the Dec 30 election and has formed the government for a third straight term.
The BNP and its allies in the coalition Jatiya Oikya Front, including Gono Forum, won only eight seats.

The BNP candidates who won are its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Bogura-6, Mosharraf Hossain in Bogura-4, Zahidur Rahman in Thakurgaon-3, Aminul Islam in Chapainawabganj-2, Harun-ur-Rashid in Chapainawabganj-3 and Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan in Brahmanbaria-2.
The Jatiya Oikya Front boycotted the results of the polls late on Election Day with its Convener Dr Kamal calling for a fresh election.
Since then, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul, who serves as the coalition’s spokesperson, has said several times that the MPs-elect will not take the oath to their office.
Several others in Oikya Front top brass, including ASM Abdur Rab of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Gano Forum leaders Subrata Chowdhury and Mostofa Mohsin Montu have also maintained it on several occasions.
Amid speculations of Gano Forum joining the parliament, leaders of Oikya Front or its largest member BNP declined to comment on the record.
“There are rumours that Sultan Md Monsur met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. But I have not spoken with him (Monsur) on the issue. The matter will be discussed once Dr Kamal Hossain returns,” said a member of Oikya Front’s policymaking Steering Committee told Bangla Tribune.
The BNP says they have no knowledge on the issue.
“We do not know anything about Gano Forum MPs-elect taking the oath. What I can say is the decision will be taken by all members of the Jatiya Oikya Front, including the BNP. But I think the previous decision stands until now,” Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told a media call earlier in the day.
Speaking to the media at his office, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that they were aware of the matter.
“We have heard that the Gano Forum members will take the oath and we welcome the decision. Because not taking oath after being elected is nothing but defaming the voters,” he said.