Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka
Dhaka, Feb 17: Tarique Rahman is set to be sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday after steering his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to a decisive victory in the 13th parliamentary elections.
The BNP secured 209 out of 297 seats, while right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami bagged 68 seats. Deposed premier Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League was barred from contesting the polls.
Breaking from long-standing tradition, the swearing-in ceremony of the 60-year-old BNP chairman will be held at the South Plaza of the Parliament Complex instead of Bangabhaban. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new cabinet at 4 pm at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, according to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath to all newly elected Members of Parliament. The 297 MPs of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will first take oath as lawmakers and subsequently as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.
The BNP has convened a parliamentary party meeting at 11:30 am at the Parliament Building to elect its parliamentary party leader. BNP standing committee member Salah Uddin Ahmed said that as the leader of the majority party, Rahman would assume the office of Prime Minister.
According to constitutional procedure, the BNP MPs will elect their leader immediately after being sworn in, following which the President will invite him to form the government.
India will be represented at the ceremony by Om Birla. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Lok Sabha Secretary-General Utpal Kumar Singh are also expected to accompany him.
Rahman will assume office for the first time, replacing interim government chief Muhammad Yunus, who took charge in August 2024 following the collapse of the Awami League government amid massive anti-government protests. During Yunus’ tenure, Dhaka’s relations with New Delhi reportedly witnessed a downturn.
Following his party’s victory, Rahman visited political rivals including Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, exchanging greetings and holding cordial discussions.
Addressing a post-election press conference, Rahman called for “national unity” and “peace” in the larger interest of the country. “Our paths and opinions may differ, but in the interest of the country, we must remain united. National unity is our collective strength, while division is our weakness,” he said, acknowledging challenges such as a fragile economy, weakened institutions and a deteriorating law and order situation.
He identified economic recovery and ensuring good governance as the two foremost priorities of his administration, asserting that there would be “no room for politics of vengeance” and that the rule of law would be upheld.
Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and BNP founder, late President Ziaur Rahman, returned to Bangladesh two months ago after 17 years in self-exile in London. Though he has not previously held public office, analysts believe his political lineage has endowed him with considerable acumen.
The BNP has invited around 1,200 domestic and foreign dignitaries to the swearing-in ceremony. Among the expected attendees are Mohammed Muizzu of the Maldives, Turkish Undersecretary Beris Ekinci, and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa.
The February 12 election followed a prolonged period of political vacuum, instability and fragile security conditions, including reported attacks on minorities after the end of Hasina’s 15-year rule.
Notably, four minority candidates — all from the BNP — won seats. These include Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Nitai Roy Chowdhury from the Hindu community, Saching Pru, a Buddhist leader, and Dipen Dewan from the Chakma ethnic minority.
Hindus constitute nearly eight per cent of Bangladesh’s population of around 170 million.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad said his party intends to play a constructive role as the opposition in the new Parliament.