BNP MPs' resignation: EC to act on by-polls after gazette
The Election Commission will take steps to hold by-elections when it receives the gazette notification declaring the seven parliamentary seats vacant following the resignation of BNP MPs.
Out of the seven BNP MPs, five submitted their resignations in person to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury today and the remaining two sent those by email.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin told reporters at her office that one MP's resignation letter was not accepted as his signature was scanned. He has to submit his resignation letter again.
"The Parliament Secretariat will issue a gazette notification declaring the respective seats vacant. Then it will be sent to the Election Commission to take further action. It will also be informed when the parliament is in session," she said.
A parliamentary seat will become vacant if the Speaker receives the resignation letter signed by the member of parliament.
According to section 178 (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, if any MP's seat becomes vacant, the Parliament Secretariat shall publish a gazette and inform the Election Commission in this regard so that the latter can take appropriate action.
Earlier on Saturday, the BNP at a rally in the capital announced that their seven MPs have submitted resignation to the Speaker.
In their resignation letters, the BNP MPs said "extreme dictatorship" prevails in Bangladesh at present.
They mentioned various reasons including the government's anti-democracy and anti-people activities, suppression of opposition political figures, mass arrests, enforced disappearances, killings and deprivation of freedom of speech, deprivation of voting rights and human rights and ineffectiveness of parliament as reasons for resignation from the House.
"I agree with the public demand for the abolition of this parliament by resigning from the position of a member of this parliament which has taken a stand against the public interest and expressing solidarity with the party's decision voluntarily, in a healthy body, with a sound mind and without the instigation of others, after deep thought and consideration, I resigned from the parliament today on December 10, 2022," Rumeen Farhana, one of the seven BNP leaders, wrote in her resignation letter, which she read before the journalists at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Election Commissioner Md Alamgir told reporters at his office that they will start work after receiving the gazette notification issued by the parliament secretariat.
He said by-elections will be held in those constituencies within 90 days from the date of gazette notification.
EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said if any seat in parliament becomes vacant, there will be a by-election.
"By-elections will be held if any parliamentary seat becomes vacant before the expiry of 180 days of the parliamentary term. The tenure of the current 11th parliament has still more than one year. So, if any seat is vacant, the election commission has to conduct by-elections according to law," he added.