Bangladesh MPs take oath, new Cabinet on Sunday

Bangladeshi activists shout slogans protesting against communal attacks during an ongoing strike called by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014. Bangladeshi police said they conducted raids and arrested three leading opposition members on Tuesday, exacerbating political tensions after a violent general election. Political violence has convulsed the country in recent months as opposition activists staged attacks, strikes and transportation blockades to protest the government. Nearly 300 people have been killed since last February. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad)

Bangladesh will have its new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday as members of the new Parliament took oath on Thursday.

The swearing-in ceremony, to be administered by President Abdul Hamid, will take place at 3.30 p.m. at Bangabhaban, the President’s House, Cabinet Division sources said.

The newly elected lawmakers elected through the January 5 elections took the oath of office, a day after the Election Commission issued a gazette notification on the result of the 10th parliamentary election.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and MPs of her party took oath in the first phase.

Candidates in 153 constituencies out of the total 300 had been elected without any contest in the general election boycotted by the major opposition party.

In 139 constituencies, lawmakers were elected after contest, while re-polling takes place in eight other seats on Jan 16.