BNP leaders who were elected in the 11th parliamentary election should have taken oath as part of their moral obligation.
Awami League Acting General Secretary Mahabubul Alam Hanif remarked this in a reception held for female parliamentarians at the Awami League’s central office
He said: “BNP MPs-elect should respect the people's verdict who voted for them. People will not vote for BNP again if they do not join parliament.
"BNP has decided that they will not take oath but the leaders from the party who got elected in the last national election, should."
The senior Awami League leader hoped that the elected BNP leaders will be sworn-in as lawmakers in the 11th parliament by April 30.
Bangladesh Mohila Awami League Dhaka South President Sabera Begum was in chair while Awami League Dhaka South General Secretary Shah Alam Murad spoke.
BNP and its alliance Jatiya Oikya Front had experienced a major defeat in the 11th parliamentary election which was held on December 30, where a total of five candidates from the BNP, and two candidates from their ally, Gono Forum, were elected, while the ruling Awami League and its allies bagged 267 seats.
Whereas HM Ershad's Jatiya Party (JaPa) got 20 seats in the election.
On Thursday, BNP's Zahidur Rahman took oath as a member of the 11th parliament from the Thakurgaon 3 constituency, violating the party's decision.
Gono Forum's MP Sultan Md Mansur, from the Moulvibazar 2 constituency and MP Mokobbir Khan from the Sylhet 2 constituency also violated their respective party directives and took oath as members of the present parliament.