<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CERT
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>certification906.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATION
<TEXT>
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 In connection with the attached Report of
John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund (the "registrant") on Form N-CSR
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Report"), each of
the undersigned officers of the registrant does hereby certify that, to the best
of such officer's knowledge:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements
of 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information
contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial
condition and results of operations of the registrant as of, and for, the
periods presented in the Report.


-----------------------
Maureen R. Ford
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: June 25, 2003



-----------------------
Richard A. Brown
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: June 25, 2003

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to the registrant and will be retained by the registrant and furnished
to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
