Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, following her party’s resounding victory in the 7 January elections, is set to be sworn in as prime minister for the fourth consecutive term and will form her cabinet on Thursday (11 January), according to Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq.
The new cabinet will take the oath at the Bangabhaban at 7 pm on Thursday, as announced by the minister during a press briefing at the secretariat on 9 January.
On 10 January, MPs-elect in the elections will take their oath as the Election Commission approved the publication of the election results in official gazettes. Following the oath, Awami League’s parliamentary party will officially elect Sheikh Hasina as their leader and communicate this decision to the President, leading to her appointment as prime minister for the fifth time since her first term in 1996.
The president will then administer the oath to the new prime minister, who will advise the head of state on the appointment of ministers and state ministers, selected by her, to form the new cabinet. Specific details regarding the number of lawmakers serving as ministers or the composition of the cabinet were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission is expected to issue gazettes announcing the winners of the 12th national polls on the same day. According to Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath, the gazettes for all constituencies are likely to be announced on that day.
Regarding the opposition party in the parliament, Anisul mentioned that the role of independent candidates who won in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls would be crucial in its formation. The opposition’s composition will depend on how the independent candidates position themselves, and if they decide to act separately, Jatiyo Party will become the opposition.
The swearing-in ceremony for the elected members of the 12th Parliament is scheduled for 10 January. Awami League-backed candidates secured 222 seats in the general elections, while independent candidates, most of whom also belonged to the AL, won 62 seats. Jatiyo Party candidates secured 11 seats, and three single candidates from three parties—Bangladesh Workers’ Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, and Bangladesh Kalyan Party—emerged victorious in their respective constituencies.
