BNP Elects Tarique Rahman as Parliamentary Leader, Paving Way for Prime Ministership

Dhaka, Feb 2026 : The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Parliamentary Party on Tuesday unanimously elected Tarique Rahman as its Leader, formally setting the stage for him to become the Leader of the House and take oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh later in the day, according to Bangladeshi media reports. The decision marks a decisive political moment following the BNP’s sweeping victory in the 13th parliamentary elections.

As the party commanding an absolute majority in Parliament, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party formally constituted its Parliamentary Party after the oath-taking of its newly elected lawmakers. The inaugural meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and was chaired by Tarique Rahman himself. Earlier in the day, 208 BNP Members of Parliament took their oaths, completing the formal process required for the formation of the Parliamentary Party.

During the meeting, the BNP Parliamentary Party elected Tarique Rahman as its Leader and unanimously endorsed him as the party’s sole candidate for the post of Prime Minister. The development was officially confirmed through a post shared on the party’s Facebook page, underscoring the unity within the party ranks following the election outcome.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, speaking to journalists after the swearing-in ceremony, said that the party’s lawmakers had reposed full faith in Tarique Rahman’s leadership. He noted that Tarique has articulated a clear roadmap and vision for building a “new Bangladesh,” and the MPs have chosen him to guide the party’s legislative agenda in the Jatiya Sangsad. Leading Bangladeshi daily The Business Standard reported that the leadership decision reflected both political consensus and confidence in Tarique’s future-oriented plans.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath to the newly elected MPs in line with constitutional provisions. This was necessitated by the fact that the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently vacant.

However, reports also highlighted a significant political stance taken by the BNP lawmakers regarding the Constitution Reform Council. According to multiple sources, BNP MPs did not take oath as members of the council. At the beginning of the oath-taking ceremony, senior BNP leader Salauddin Ahmed clarified that, on instructions from party chief Tarique Rahman, all newly elected BNP MPs had been directed not to sign the Constitution Reform Council form. The Daily Star reported that the party maintained MPs were not elected as members of such a council and therefore could not assume that role.

Salauddin Ahmed further argued that the Constitution Reform Council does not currently have constitutional recognition. He stressed that the council would need to be formally incorporated into the Constitution following the outcome of a referendum. He also pointed out that clear procedural guidelines are required, including provisions on who would administer the oath to members of such a council.

The 13th parliamentary elections were held on February 12 alongside a nationwide referendum on the July National Charter, covering 299 of Bangladesh’s 300 constituencies. The elections resulted in a decisive mandate for the BNP, which won 209 parliamentary seats. The radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the second-largest force with 68 seats.

Tarique Rahman himself contested and won from two constituencies. Subsequently, he vacated the Bogura-6 seat to pave the way for a by-election and chose to take oath as a Member of Parliament from the Dhaka-17 constituency in Dhaka.

With Tarique Rahman now set to lead Bangladesh, the country is poised to see a male Prime Minister for the first time in nearly 35 years. Political analysts, however, caution that the new government faces formidable challenges, including restoring stability after prolonged unrest and countering the rise of Islamist extremism witnessed during the 18-month tenure of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. How the incoming leadership addresses these issues is expected to shape Bangladesh’s political and social trajectory in the years ahead.