Claim that Mirza Abbas’s parliamentary seat is vacant is a rumor

PNN News Desk | Dhaka

Claims circulating on social media that BNP Standing Committee member and Prime Minister’s adviser Mirza Abbas’s parliamentary seat has become vacant have been found to be false after verification.

Various Facebook pages and personal profiles were claiming that he had not taken oath within the stipulated time and therefore the Dhaka–8 seat had become vacant. However, in reality he had already taken oath as a Member of Parliament.

He was elected from Dhaka–8 in the thirteenth national parliamentary election held in February. He took oath along with other newly elected MPs on 17 February. He also spoke to journalists inside the parliament building that day.

The social media posts claimed that “according to the constitution, failure to take oath within 90 days makes the seat vacant” or “absence from parliament for 90 days cancels the seat.”

However, constitutional analysis shows that the provision applies if oath is not taken within 90 days of the first parliamentary session. Since Mirza Abbas has already taken oath, the provision does not apply here.

Furthermore, when a parliamentary seat becomes vacant, the Election Commission officially announces it and later publishes a by-election schedule. No such announcement has been made regarding the Dhaka–8 seat.

It is also known that after falling ill on 11 March, Mirza Abbas was hospitalized and later taken abroad for better treatment. He is currently undergoing treatment in Malaysia.

Relevant sources say that his absence from parliament has not yet reached 90 days. Therefore, the claim that his seat is vacant is completely baseless and misleading.

Analysts say that spreading such unverified information is creating confusion among the public. They urge verification from reliable sources before publishing political and constitutional information.