Refurbishment, repairs and cleaning were underway at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban yesterday as preparations intensified for the swearing-in ceremonies of the newly elected MPs and the new cabinet.

Work was seen going on to clean the South Plaza and the surrounding areas. The parliament complex is also being refurbished, with damaged areas being repaired and spaces cleaned to welcome the new members.

A senior official of the parliament secretariat said the interior of the parliament building and MPs’ designated rooms had been rearranged and redecorated.

Preparations have been ongoing since Saturday under the supervision of the Cabinet Division and the Parliament Secretariat, he said.

The newly elected MPs of the 13th parliament will be sworn in tomorrow at 10:00am at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, said Law Adviser Asif Nazrul.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet will also be held at the same venue at 4:00pm, he said while talking to reporters at his office at the Secretariat yesterday.

CEC AMM Nasir Uddin is likely to administer the oath to the MPs, while President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the members of the cabinet, the law adviser said.

“We have been informed by the BNP that, immediately after taking the oath there (South Plaza), they will elect the leader of their parliamentary party. That may take place around 11:30am or 12:00pm,” Asif Nazrul said.

In response to a question about whether there was any reason for holding the swearing-in ceremony at the South Plaza instead of Bangabhaban, Nazrul said the BNP had expressed its intention to hold the ceremony at the South Plaza.

“My understanding is that this parliament is somewhat different. The sacrifice of the July students and people, this mass uprising, so much sacrifice, so much suffering, so much pain, so many lives lost -- in exchange for all that, we have obtained this parliament.”

“Considering all these matters, perhaps they expressed such an intention. We have arranged it accordingly,” he added.