In a ceremony symbolizing profound political transformation, Tarique Rahman was formally inaugurated as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister on Tuesday following his Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) overwhelming electoral triumph. The 60-year-old political scion, whose lineage traces back to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the assassinated President Ziaur Rahman, assumes leadership amid pressing national challenges that demand immediate attention.
The unprecedented open-air inauguration at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban—departing from traditional venues—witnessed President Mohammed Shahabuddin administering oaths to Rahman and his cabinet ministers. The ceremony gathered distinguished attendees including senior political figures, diplomatic corps, military officials, and international representatives from neighboring powers China, India, and Pakistan.
This political restoration marks the BNP’s return to governance after nearly two decades in opposition, securing a commanding two-thirds parliamentary majority. The election also witnessed the remarkable resurgence of Jamaat-e-Islami, which captured 68 legislative seats following the revocation of its 2013 prohibition after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration was toppled during the 2024 Gen Z-led uprising.
The previous government, led by Hasina’s Awami League, faced electoral disqualification after the Election Commission revoked its registration. An interim administration headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus successfully steered the nation through the complex transitional period preceding these historic elections.
Rahman’s ascension represents the culmination of an extraordinary political journey that included 17 years of self-imposed exile in London before his return last year. Despite facing persistent criticism from political adversaries regarding corruption allegations—which he consistently denies—Rahman’s homecoming galvanized party loyalists and fundamentally reshaped the BNP’s electoral strategy.
In his initial post-victory address, the new Prime Minister emphasized national reconciliation, declaring: ‘Peace, law and order must be maintained at any cost.’ He explicitly cautioned supporters against retaliatory actions, asserting that his administration ‘will not tolerate any kind of chaos’ as Bangladesh embarks on this new political chapter.