Gono Forum's MP-elect Mokabbir Khan takes oath
Gono Forum's MP-elect Mokabbir Khan took oath as a member of the 11th parliament yesterday, ignoring his party's decision.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath-taking programme around 12:15pm in her office at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Elected from Sylhet-2, Mokabbir is the second MP from the opposition coalition, Jatiya Oikyafront, to join the newly elected parliament. Gono Forum's Sultan Muhammad Mansur -- elected from Moulvibazar-2 -- was sworn in on March 7.
Gono Forum expelled Sultan Mansur from the party, hours after he took oath as MP -- violating the party decision.
Mokabbir on April 1 sent a letter, using Gono Forum's letterhead, to the Speaker -- requesting her to make an arrangement for administrating oath.
On March 3, the two Gono Forum lawmakers-elect sent separate letters to the Speaker, requesting her to arrange their oath-taking ceremony on March 7.
However, Mokabbir did not take oath at the time, citing “unavoidable reasons”.
Asked, Gono Forum General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu told this newspaper that Mokabbir took oath going against the party's decision.
“We'll sit in a meeting soon and take punitive action against him,” he added.
BNP described Mokabbir's oath-taking as violation of Oikyafront's decision and an act of “fraudulence in politics”.
BNP, Gono Forum, Nagorik Oikya, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob) and Krishok Sramik Janata League had joined the December 30 election under the banner of Jatiya Oikyafront.
BNP bagged six seats while Gono Forum won two in the election.
Expelled Gono Forum leader Sultan Munsur participated in the election with BNP's electoral symbol, “sheaf of paddy”, while Mokabbir contested with Gono Forum's electoral symbol “rising sun”.
Bringing allegations of widespread irregularities and vote rigging, the alliance rejected the polls results and decided to not join the parliament.
Mokabbir told reporters that he took oath as MP after taking approval of the party.
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