In a historic political transition for Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, along with all elected lawmakers of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took oath at the National Parliament building in Dhaka on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s governance. The ceremony followed the decisive outcome of the 13th Parliamentary Elections held on February 12, in which the BNP secured a sweeping mandate.
The oath of office was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who swore in Rahman and members of his initial cabinet during a grand ceremony at the National Parliament complex’s South Plaza. The venue was expanded to accommodate nearly 1,200 guests, including political leaders, diplomats, and foreign dignitaries.
Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party emerged as the clear winner of the elections, securing 209 out of 297 parliamentary seats. The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, becoming the principal opposition bloc in the new legislature. The polls were notable for the absence of former ruling party Awami League, led by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, which had been barred from contesting the elections.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath to all newly elected lawmakers. According to an official press release, all 297 members of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad first took oath as Members of Parliament and subsequently as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, reflecting the incoming government’s stated focus on institutional reforms.
Among the BNP legislators, 25 elected MPs were sworn in as cabinet ministers, while 24 others assumed office as state ministers, forming the core of Rahman’s first government.
The BNP has convened a parliamentary party meeting at the Parliament Building to formally elect its parliamentary leader. Senior BNP leader Salah Uddin Ahmed confirmed that, as leader of the majority party, Tarique Rahman would be chosen as prime minister and invited by the President to form the government in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Once formally appointed, Rahman will assume office as prime minister for the first time, replacing interim government chief Muhammad Yunus, who took charge in August 2024 following the collapse of the Awami League government amid massive anti-government protests. Yunus’s tenure saw a noticeable downturn in relations between Dhaka and New Delhi, making the political transition closely watched across the region.
India was represented at the swearing-in ceremony by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Lok Sabha Secretary-General Utpal Kumar Singh. Their presence underscored New Delhi’s interest in stabilising bilateral ties under the new leadership in Dhaka.
Following the election victory, Rahman struck a conciliatory tone by visiting political rivals, including Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman and National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam, exchanging greetings and holding discussions aimed at fostering political cooperation.
At a post-election press conference, Rahman emphasised “national unity” and warned that political divisions could weaken democratic institutions. He acknowledged that Bangladesh faces serious challenges, including a fragile economy, weakened governance structures, and deteriorating law and order conditions.
Rahman’s rise marks a dramatic political comeback. The son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, he returned to Bangladesh only two months ago after spending 17 years in self-imposed exile in London.
Despite never having held public office before, analysts argue that Rahman’s political lineage and long association with party strategy provided him with significant political experience behind the scenes. His leadership now faces its first major test as expectations rise for economic recovery, institutional reform, and improved regional diplomacy.
With a commanding parliamentary majority and a renewed political mandate, the new BNP-led government begins its tenure amid both optimism and uncertainty, as Bangladesh enters what could prove to be one of the most consequential phases in its modern political history.
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