Prime Minister After BNP’s Landslide Victory

Dhaka, Feb 2026 : Tarique Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sworn in on Tuesday as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh, marking a decisive political transition following his party’s emphatic triumph in the 13th parliamentary elections. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex in Dhaka, underscoring the formal beginning of a new BNP-led government.

The oath of office was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, amid tight security and the presence of senior political leaders, diplomats, and dignitaries. Moments after Rahman assumed office, members of his newly constituted cabinet were also sworn in, completing the formation of the government.

Senior BNP leaders who took oath as ministers included Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, among others. The 50-member cabinet consists of 25 full ministers, 24 state ministers, and three technocrats, reflecting a mix of political experience and specialist expertise.

According to leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo, the cabinet features several fresh faces, including lawmakers who entered Parliament for the first time in this election and were immediately entrusted with ministerial responsibilities. This blend of seasoned leaders and first-time ministers is being seen as an attempt by the BNP leadership to balance continuity with renewal as it embarks on governing the country.

Earlier in the day, all 209 newly elected BNP lawmakers were sworn in as members of Parliament. However, they notably declined to take the oath related to the Constitution Reform Council. BNP leader Salauddin Ahmed said that, acting on instructions from party chief Tarique Rahman, BNP MPs were advised not to sign the Constitution Reform Council form, as they were not elected to serve on that body. This development was reported by the country’s leading English-language daily The Daily Star.

Following BNP’s stance, parties from the 11-party alliance — including Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) — initially refused to take their parliamentary oaths, citing BNP’s rejection of the Constitution Reform Council process. However, the impasse eased later in the day, with independent lawmakers and Islami Andolan Bangladesh members proceeding to take the oath, followed by six newly elected NCP MPs.

In a historic first, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath to the newly elected MPs, in accordance with constitutional provisions. Never before in Bangladesh’s parliamentary history has a sitting CEC overseen the swearing-in of lawmakers, making the moment a constitutional milestone.

The BNP formally elected Tarique Rahman as leader of its Parliamentary Party, positioning him as the Leader of the House and paving the way for his assumption of the prime ministerial office. The 13th parliamentary election, held on February 12 alongside a referendum on the July National Charter, took place in 299 of the country’s 300 constituencies.

In the polls, BNP secured a commanding 209 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the second-largest force with 68 seats. Rahman himself won from two constituencies but vacated the Bogura-6 seat to allow a by-election, choosing instead to take oath as an MP from Dhaka-17.

Bangladesh last had a male prime minister nearly 35 years ago, making Rahman’s ascent historically significant. Political analysts, however, caution that the new government faces formidable challenges, including restoring stability and countering rising Islamist extremism following the turbulent 18-month tenure of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration.

Team Maverick.