Tarique Rahman has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh following a decisive election victory

Tarique Rahman, a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took the oath of office as prime minister on Tuesday, signifying a significant political change in the South Asian country after a time of unrest.

Rahman, 60, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the assassinated President Ziaur Rahman, assumes office following his party’s decisive victory in the parliamentary elections.

He confronts pressing challenges, such as reestablishing political stability, rebuilding investor trust, and revitalizing crucial industries like the garment sector following the upheaval triggered by the Gen Z-led uprising that resulted in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024.

A temporary administration headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus governed the nation during the transitional phase preceding the election.

A COMBINATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL

The open-air swearing-in ceremony took place at the South Plaza of the national parliament building, marking a departure from tradition, as it was typically held at the Bangabhaban, the president’s official residence.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin presided over the oath-taking ceremony of Rahman and his 49-member council of ministers, attended by prominent political figures, diplomats, civil and military officials, as well as representatives from nations such as China, India, and Pakistan.

The new government comprises a blend of senior and junior ministers, featuring a combination of seasoned BNP leaders and newcomers. This approach aims to strike a balance between political experience and technical expertise, as the administration prioritizes economic recovery, law and order, and governance reforms.

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, previously the Commerce Minister, has been appointed as the finance minister, while Khalilur Rahman, who served as the national security adviser in the interim government, has taken on the role of foreign minister.

Rahman’s BNP achieved a decisive two-thirds majority, regaining power after almost twenty years. The Islamist party Jamaat‑e‑Islami, participating in its first election since the lifting of a ban in 2013 after Hasina’s removal, achieved a remarkable victory by securing 68 seats.

The Election Commission revoked the registration of Hasina’s Awami League party, resulting in a ban on its participation in the elections.

The Jamaat and its allies, which include the National Citizen Party (NCP) led by youth activists who were instrumental in the movement that ousted Hasina, will constitute the opposition.

Jamaat and NCP have chosen to boycott the event.

The Jamaat and the NCP boycotted the ceremony in protest after Rahman’s party declined the interim government’s request for its lawmakers to take an additional oath under the proposed ‘Constitution Reform Council’. The council plans to revise the constitution in light of the referendum conducted during the national election.

Rahman’s rise marks the culmination of a lengthy and tumultuous political journey. He came back to Bangladesh last year after 17 years of voluntary exile in London, arriving just before his mother’s passing.

Critics have consistently targeted his political history, highlighting corruption allegations he refutes, yet his comeback has invigorated party supporters and transformed the BNP’s campaign.

Following the election, Rahman called for calm and restraint, stating: “Peace, law and order must be maintained at any cost … We will not tolerate any kind of chaos.”