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Tarique Rahman sworn In as Bangladesh Prime Minister, unveils 49-member cabinet

By The South Asia Times

DHAKA - Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s new prime minister on Tuesday, taking office alongside a 49-member cabinet after his party’s sweeping election victory.

The ceremony was held in Dhaka, marking the formal return to power of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) following a landslide win in last week’s parliamentary elections.

Earlier in the day, newly elected lawmakers were administered the oath by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the 300-seat Jatiya Sangsad. The BNP secured 209 seats -- its strongest mandate since 2001 -- enabling it to comfortably form the government.

Rahman, 60, is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and late president Ziaur Rahman. He returned to Bangladesh in December after spending 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom. His inauguration signals a significant political shift in the country.

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance emerged as the main opposition bloc with 77 seats and is expected to name its parliamentary leader in the coming days.

Political tensions persist over a proposed constitutional reform council, approved in a referendum held alongside the general election.

BNP lawmakers have declined to take a separate oath as members of the reform body, prompting opposition warnings of a potential parliamentary boycott.

Three parliamentary seats remain vacant due to postponed elections. In addition to the 300 directly elected members, 50 reserved seats for women will be allocated proportionally once parliament formally convenes.

Rahman’s swearing-in brings an end to the 18-month interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which assumed office after a mass uprising in July 2024 ended the 15-year rule of then–Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina fled to India in August 2024 amid nationwide unrest that left approximately 1,400 people dead and thousands injured.

The new government now faces the challenge of stabilizing the political landscape, reviving economic growth, and navigating regional dynamics as Bangladesh begins a new chapter under Rahman’s leadership.