Information minister Hasanul Haq Inu has said that the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) will take oath on January 3.  “Before taking oath, the gazette notification on the elected MPs would be issued tomorrow,” he told reporters at a function of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat yesterday.

When asked about formation of the Cabinet, Inu replied: “I can’t say when the Cabinet would be formed. It depends on the Prime Minister.” Asked which party would become the main opposition in the 11th Parliament, Inu said that the Jatiya Party (JP) has obtained the second position by securing 20 seats and deserves the status.

“If the Prime Minister invites the JP chief to join her Cabinet, it may join the Cabinet. But if it decides not to be part of the Cabinet, it'll form the opposition in consultation with other like-minded parties,” he added.

Asked how many new faces would be in the new Cabinet, Inu said the matter lies in the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister. Describing the challenges before the new government, the information minister said that they want to carry the ongoing development and establish peace throughout the country.

Sources in the Cabinet Division said the new cabinet is likely to be formed between January 5 and January 10 this year after the taking of oath by all the Members of Parliament (MPs)-elects by the speaker of the existing 10th parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on January 3.

Joint Secretary of Cabinet Division (Rules and Service Branch) Shafiul Azim told The Independent that they are fully prepared to support the forming of the new cabinet.

“We have completed all the process of forming the new government and supporting the oath taking of the new cabinet by the President,” he said.

For the fourth time, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, is set to become the country’s prime minister after her party secured win in 259 constituencies, out of the total of 300 seats in the 11th parliamentary elections held on December 30 last year. Besides the Awami League, Jatiya Party has won 20 seats, BNP 5, workers party 2, Jasad 2, Bikalpa Dhara 2, Tarikar Federation 1, and Jatiya Party (Manju) 1 seat in the election.

 Gazette notification likely today The Election Commission (EC) is likely to publish the gazette notification today declaring the official results of 11th parliamentary polls held on December 30. EC sources said names of 298 MPs-elect out of 299 constituencies where elections were held would be published in the notification.

Result of Brahmanbaria-2 seat remains suspended as voting in three centres will be held on January 9. Election to Gaibandha-3 seat was earlier rescheduled for January 27 following the death of one of the candidates on December 20. Sources said the names of the MPs-elect were sent to Bangladesh Government Press for printing on Tuesday and it would be made official after the completion of the printing. As per the constitution, EC will publish the results within three days of the elections and the new government must arrange Jatiya Sangshad session within 30 days.