Tarique Rahman Sworn in as Bangladesh Prime Minister Following Landslide Victory
Tarique Rahman has officially assumed office as Bangladesh’s new prime minister, days after his party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), secured a decisive victory in the first national elections since the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted former leader Sheikh Hasina.
“I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of prime minister of the government in accordance with the law,” Rahman declared on Tuesday during a televised inauguration ceremony held outside the parliament building in Dhaka. The swearing-in was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Earlier, inside the parliament’s oath room, newly elected lawmakers took their pledge of loyalty to Bangladesh, administered by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
Foreign dignitaries, including Pakistan’s foreign minister and the Speaker of the Indian Parliament, attended the historic event, alongside members of the new cabinet, who were also slated to take their oaths later on Tuesday.
Despite tight security, hundreds of citizens gathered outside parliament grounds throughout the day, eager to witness the proceedings. “People really want changes. They want to see new faces in parliament — people with good qualifications, even those who are young,” reported Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdhury from Dhaka. “You’ll see a lot of new faces, and that’s what’s expected: They want new dynamics in parliament.”
Landslide Victory for BNP
The BNP and its allies won at least 212 seats in the 350-member parliament, securing a commanding majority. Elections were held in 299 constituencies, while the Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies won 77 seats. The ruling Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, was barred from participating.
Rahman succeeds an interim government that had governed for 18 months following Hasina’s removal. His administration faces the critical task of implementing the July National Charter, a sweeping governance reform approved by over 60 percent of voters in a concurrent referendum.
The charter outlines more than 80 reforms, including term limits for elected officials, a two-chamber parliament, and restrictions on unilateral legislative amendments by the governing party, aiming to strengthen transparency, accountability, and democratic governance in Bangladesh.
