Dhaka, Feb. 17 -- Newly elected BNP MPs have been sworn in as members of the 13th national parliament but have declined to take oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council.

The decision was announced on Tuesday morning at the parliament oath room before the swearing-in ceremony by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed.

He said the Constitution Reform Council would have to be incorporated into the Constitution first, including clear provisions on who would administer the oath and under what legal framework.

"There is currently no such provision in the Constitution", he added.

He said that although a blank oath format exists in the Constitution's Third Schedule, any specific provision for a reform council would have to b...