Abrar Hussain of DOT
Oikyafront leaders announced yesterday that none of its elected lawmakers will be taking their oaths, dismissing any claims of a rift in the alliance.
The decision was made after a steering committee member meeting, reported The Daily Star, quoting Mostofa Mohsin Montu and ASM Abdur Rob.
There were rumors of a growing schism in the party by different online news portals and newspapers, claiming that Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain said two MPs-elect of the Gonoforum may take oath and join the 11th parliament.
“We want to say very clearly on the issue of elected lawmakers taking oath that there is no disagreement between the components of Jatiya Oikyafront,” Mohsin, general secretary of Gonoforum, a component of Oikyafront, revealed in a press release.
The statement claimed that rather following the December 30 ‘drama’, Jatiya Oikyafront is now more united to ensure the voting rights and other democratic rights of the people of the country.
Dr Kamal Hossain’s statement at an extension meeting of the Gonoforum central committee on Saturday regarding the issue of taking oath of the MPs-elect was merely a ‘misunderstanding’. “Dr Kamal did not in any way say this,” Montu said.
According to a number of media outlets, Dr Kamal yesterday said two lawmakers-elect of the Gonoforum may take oath.
“We’ve rejected the election, but the way our two candidates came out successful in such an election through competition is their big achievement. So, we’re thinking positively about sending them to parliament,” the Gonoforum chief had stated.