Dhaka (Bangladesh): Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is scheduled to take oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, marking a significant political shift in Dhaka following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.
Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to the country after 17 years in exile and led the BNP to a sweeping victory in the recent general elections.
According to party leaders, Members of Parliament will take oath at 9:30 a.m. at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, followed by a separate ceremony for the new cabinet in the afternoon. BNP MP Rashiduzzaman Millat confirmed that neither Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Pakistan’s prime minister will attend the ceremony.
India will be represented by Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, at the swearing-in ceremony. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said his presence highlights the strong and enduring ties between the two nations and reaffirms New Delhi’s support for democratic values in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds a proposal for elected lawmakers to take a second oath as members of a constitutional reform council. As reported by Prothom Alo, BNP leaders have expressed reservations, arguing that the current constitution makes no provision for such a body. They have also questioned the legal standing of the July National Charter aimed at implementing constitutional reforms.
In the February 12 elections, the BNP secured a majority in the 300-member parliament, winning more than 151 seats. The BNP-led alliance reportedly captured 212 seats overall, while Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies won 77 seats, emerging as the principal opposition bloc. The Bangladesh Awami League, led by Hasina, was barred from contesting the polls.
Rahman’s swearing-in is being viewed as the beginning of a new political chapter for Bangladesh amid ongoing debates over constitutional reform and governance priorities.
