Two Gano Forum elected candidates in the 11 national parliamentary election, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed and Mokabbir Khan, have given letters to the speaker to take oath on Mar 7 next.

Oikya Front leaders have said that the oath taking of two members will not have any impact on Oikya Front. BNP sources say there is a pressure for the elected members to take oath. BNP’s foreign allies want the party to be active both on the streets and in the parliament.

Jatiya Oikya Front’s coordinator and general secretary of Gano Forum, Mostafa Mohsin Montu, says, “Our decision is that if letter for oath taking is given, then it has to be sent on the behalf of the Oikya Front.”

Oikya Front’s steering committee member, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, told Bangla Tribune, “Gano Forum will have to decide what it will do in case their members decide to take oath.”

Several responsible sources also feel that even if the elected members take oath, there will not be any chance for misunderstanding.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed, said, “We took a decision early on that no one would join the parliament.”

BNP candidate Harun ur Rashid has been elected from Chapainawabganj and he says, “We have not received any decision from the party about taking oath as yet.”

Dr Zafrulla Chowdhury, observes, “The election was robbed; all the other polls are being boycotted. The government is blocking all paths, arrests continue and cases have not been lifted.”

Mokabbir Khan, elected from Sylhet-2, feels the people of Bangladesh want positive politics.

“Keeping that in mind, we want to go to parliament.”

If we go to parliament, we will be able to voice the demands of the masses, he added.

Supporting the strategy to join parliament, he commented, “Taking of oath will not result in any break up in the Oikya Front.”

Another elected Gano Forum member, Sultan Mohamamd Mansur Khan, said, “we will take oath on 7 March; the people voted for us despite odds and we will take oath to respect the vote of the people.”