Gono Forum’s Mokabbir takes oath, violates party’s decision

Gono Forum’s Mokabbir takes oath, violates party’s decision

  • Dhaka Tribune  April 2nd, 2019

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the swearing-in

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the swearing-in of MP Mokabbir Khan Focus Bangla

Mokabbir is the second MP of the opposition coalition to take his oath of office

Another of Gono Forum’s elected members of parliament (MP), MP Mokabbir Khan (Sylhet 2) has taken his oath as a member of the 11th parliament, violating Gono Forum’s decision.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the swearing-in around 12:15pm at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, on Thursday.

Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury and Whips Iqbalur Rahim, Mahbub Ara Begum Gini, and Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan were present at the occasion.

Mokabbir is the second MP of the opposition coalition, Jatiya Oikya Front, to join the 11th parliament, as Gono Forum MP-elect Sultan Muhammad Mansur (Moulvibazar 2) was sworn in on March 7.

On Monday, Mokabbir sent a letter to Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury requesting her to make arrangements to administer the oath to him.

Previously, on March 3, both Mansur and Mokabbir sent separate letters to the Speaker requesting her to arrange their oath-taking ceremony on the historic March 7.

However, Mokabbir Khan did not take the oath on that day.

BNP, along with Gono Forum and some other parties, joined the December 30 election in an alliance under the banner of Jatiya Oikya Front. BNP bagged six seats while Gono Forum won two in the election.

The alliance rejected the election results, alleging that ‘massive vote robbery’ had occurred, and decided not to join the parliament.

Gono Forum expelled Sultan Mansur hours after he joined the parliament.

When contacted, party general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu said Mokabbir took the oath, going against his party’s decision. “We will have a meeting today and take punitive action against him.”