Dhaka, Feb 15 (V7N) — As the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) moves to form the government following its major victory in the 13th national election, the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has announced plans to form a shadow cabinet.

Announcement by NCP Spokesperson

The information was disclosed by NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan in a post on his verified Facebook page on Sunday.

In the post, he wrote that the party has begun preparations to establish a shadow cabinet, which would work to ensure transparency and accountability while acting as a watchdog over government activities.

What Is a Shadow Cabinet?

A shadow cabinet is typically formed by senior members of the opposition party under the leadership of the main opposition figure in parliament. It functions as an alternative cabinet, where each member is assigned to monitor a specific ministry, review policies, and propose alternative measures when necessary.

Such systems exist in several developed democracies, where opposition parties not only critique the ruling party in parliament but also maintain a structured policy platform mirroring the government cabinet.

Election Context

According to the election outcome, the BNP-led alliance secured 212 seats, while the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-aligned alliance won 77 seats. The remaining seats went to independent and other party candidates.

Political observers say the move to form a shadow cabinet signals the opposition’s intent to remain active in parliamentary oversight as the new government takes shape.

END/SMA/AJ