Bangladesh Parliament Inaugurated, Tarique Rahman Sweeps into Prime Minister's Chair

Dhaka, Bangladesh — Tarique Rahman has been confirmed as Bangladesh’s new prime minister after 297 elected members of parliament from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami-led bloc were sworn in on Tuesday (17 February).

The legislators were elected in last week’s polls — the first election since the July 2024 uprising that ended 15 years of Awami League rule. The then prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, fled to India.

Election Commission Chairman AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath of office to the new legislators. Of the total 300 parliamentary seats, voting in three constituencies was postponed.

Following the inauguration, the BNP held its first parliamentary session and elected Rahman as parliamentary leader, nominating him as prime minister-elect.

Under Bangladesh’s parliamentary system of government, the prime minister-elect is sworn in by the president after demonstrating majority support from members of parliament.

Rahman and approximately 30 members of his cabinet were scheduled to be inaugurated later the same day.

The BNP, in coalition with the Jamaat bloc, secured a two-thirds majority with the support of 212 members of parliament.

However, BNP parliamentarians did not take a separate oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council established through a referendum held concurrently with the election. Meanwhile, members from the Jamaat bloc took the oath for the council and protested the BNP’s decision.

The Constitutional Reform Council was formed after all political parties agreed to the July National Charter for reform, which was ratified through a referendum with a majority of votes in favour.

Rahman (60) is the son of the late former prime minister Khaleda Zia and President Ziaur Rahman. He returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom.

In addition to the 300 elected seats, there are 50 reserved seats for women, which will be allocated proportionally based on each party’s seat tally once parliamentary sessions commence.

Following Rahman’s and his cabinet’s inauguration, the 20-member interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will hand over power to the new administration.

The interim government was established on 8 August 2024 after Sheikh Hasina stepped down amid a wave of protests that killed approximately 1,400 people and injured thousands more.

Last week’s election produced Bangladesh’s first elected government in 18 months.