Speaker accepts five BNP MPs’ resignation, declares seats vacant

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has said that as five Members of Parliament of BNP have submitted resignation in person their seats have fallen vacant.

“I have received resignation letters from five BNP MPs. Among the remaining two, one is sick and another is abroad. There is no constitutional obligation to submit resignation letters in person. Now the Parliament Secretariat will scrutinize the letters of the two MPs and decide on them later,” she told reporters at her office at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

About BNP MP Harunur Rashid’s resignation, the Speaker said that he will have to send his resignation letter again due to some technicalities.

“Harun has resigned through email and his signature was included in the letter through scanning, which is unacceptable. He’ll have to sign the letter by himself and send it again,” Shirin said.

The speaker added that the parliament secretariat will soon issue a notification declaring the seats of the resigned MPs vacant.

Later on the day, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said that elections to seats left vacant, after 5 BNP MPs resigned, will be held within 90 days as per the constitution.

He came up with the remark while speaking with journalists at his office in Election Commission Bhaban in Dhaka, after news of resignation of five BNP MPs emerged.

“We are yet to get a gazette of the vacant seats. If they (BNP MPs) truly resigned, the election to vacant seats will be held within 90 days,” he said, adding that the gazette will be circulated after the Speaker or Deputy Speaker receives the resignation letters.

EC Alamgir said there is a constitutional obligation to hold elections for the vacant seats within 90 days after seats get vacated.

Asked about the resignation of the BNP MPs, he said they saw the matter as normal and an MP can resign.

“It is narrated in the constitution, how the resignation can go, here the EC has nothing to gain or lose,” he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Rumeen Farhana announced the decision from the party’s Golapbagh rally. The MPs sent their resignation through an email on Saturday.