NCP's Nusrat Tabassum to miss oath for reserved seat in parliament tonight

Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a nominee of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance for a women’s reserved seat, will not be gazetted as a member of parliament today despite her nomination being declared valid, the Election Commission (EC) said.

The EC said the gazette may be issued tomorrow, subject to legal developments.

On April 30, the commission published a gazette declaring 49 lawmakers elected unopposed to women’s reserved seats in the 13th National Parliament. They are scheduled to take oath at 9:00pm tonight, leaving Nusrat the only one yet to be sworn in.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the delay was due to procedural requirements, including time for appeals and withdrawal after a nomination is declared valid.

He added that a writ petition filed by NCP leader Monira Sharmin was also under consideration.

“We are keeping that in view as well. So, it cannot be said for certain that the gazette will be published tomorrow. It depends entirely on the court. If the court issues a rule, we will have to take a new decision.”

He added, “There is only one seat (remaining). If it is allocated to Nusrat and the court later rules in favour of Monira, we will have to reconsider.”

Asked whether Nusrat’s membership would be cancelled if the court later issues an order in favour of Monira Sharmin, EC Masud replied, “Of course it will be cancelled. That would mean there are two candidates. Then we can decide between them, or it may go to a vote. The Jamaat alliance would vote to select the candidate.”

Meanwhile, Monira Sharmin today formally wrote to the EC, requesting that Nusrat’s gazette not be published until the High Court hears her writ petition challenging the cancellation of her candidacy, which is scheduled for hearing tomorrow.