Dhaka, Bangladesh — Web Desk: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister on Tuesday following a landslide election victory that returned his party to power after nearly two decades.
The oath-taking ceremony was held in an open-air event at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex, breaking with tradition, which typically sees the ceremony conducted at the presidential palace. President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered the oath to Rahman and his cabinet members.
Senior political and military officials, diplomats, and representatives from several countries, including China, India, and Pakistan, attended the ceremony.
Rahman, 60, is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the late President Ziaur Rahman. He returned to Bangladesh last year after 17 years in exile, a move widely seen as a turning point in the BNP’s election campaign.
The recent parliamentary elections were held after an interim government led by Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus, which was formed following the collapse of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024.
In the elections, Jamaat-e-Islami participated for the first time since a ban imposed in 2013 was lifted, winning 68 seats. The Awami League was barred from contesting the polls after the Election Commission cancelled its registration.
In his inaugural address, Rahman stressed the need to maintain law and order, warning that any unrest would not be tolerated. Analysts say his government faces major challenges, including restoring political stability, rebuilding investor confidence, and revitalising key industries such as the garments sector.
