Dhaka, Feb. 17 -- Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku, currently in jail, has been unable to administer the oath to newly elected members of parliament as authorities declined to grant him parole over concerns about law and order.

Inspector General of Prisons Syed Motaher Hossain told bdnews24.com that the prison authorities received a letter requesting Tuku to conduct the oath-taking.

"He [Tuku] accepted the letter and agreed to administer the oath if the government made the necessary arrangements. But he could not leave prison as he was not released on parole," the prisons chief said.

Asked why parole was not granted, he said the authorities had been informed that releasing him at this time could deteriorate the law and order situation...