Tarique Rahman is set to be sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on February 17, along with a newly formed cabinet, following the decisive victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the country’s 13th parliamentary elections. The oath-taking ceremony will formally mark the beginning of a new administration after the party secured a commanding parliamentary majority.
According to official information, Rahman and his cabinet will take the oath on Monday in the presence of invited dignitaries from across South Asia. Invitations have been extended to regional leaders, though final attendance will depend on their schedules and availability. Officials indicated that responses may take time due to weekend holidays in several countries, but representatives at various levels are expected to attend even if heads of government are unable to do so. In such cases, foreign ministers or senior envoys are likely to represent their respective nations.
Traditionally, Bangladesh’s cabinet oath ceremonies are held in the Durbar Hall at Bangabhaban, the presidential residence. However, this year’s ceremony will instead take place at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan, the national parliament complex. Government officials explained that the change of venue was necessary because a significantly larger number of guests have been invited, exceeding the seating capacity of the Durbar Hall.
Sources within the BNP have indicated that Rahman has already begun finalising his cabinet lineup. The initial council of ministers is expected to be relatively small, with plans to expand it later as the administration settles into office. The limited size of the first cabinet is being viewed as a transitional arrangement during the early phase of governance.
Following the swearing-in of the cabinet, newly elected members of parliament will also take their oath on the same day, as required under Bangladesh’s Constitution. The president will administer the oath to the prime minister and cabinet members at Bangabhaban, while Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will oversee the swearing-in of elected lawmakers.
The BNP achieved a strong electoral mandate, winning 209 out of 297 contested seats, thereby securing more than a two-thirds majority in parliament. The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami also emerged as a significant political force, capturing 68 seats. Election authorities postponed results in two constituencies—Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4—while voting in another seat was deferred following the death of a candidate. Overall voter turnout in the election was recorded at 59.44 percent.
The election carries particular political significance as it follows a prolonged period of uncertainty and instability in Bangladesh. The political landscape shifted dramatically after widespread student-led protests in August 2024 brought an end to Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure in power. Hasina subsequently left the country for India on August 5, after which Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership as chief adviser of an interim administration three days later.
Rahman’s inauguration is therefore expected to signal the beginning of a new political phase in Bangladesh, with the incoming government preparing to assume full executive authority following months of transitional governance and political upheaval.
