Bangladesh is preparing for a transition of power after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, secured a decisive victory with more than a two-thirds majority in the country’s landmark parliamentary elections held on Thursday. Officials said President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to administer the oath of office to Rahman and his new cabinet within the coming days, formally ending the tenure of the interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus.
The sweeping electoral win positions Tarique Rahman to assume office as Bangladesh’s next prime minister, marking a significant political shift following months of uncertainty and transitional governance. Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid confirmed that, in accordance with constitutional provisions, the swearing-in ceremony will take place at Bangabhaban, the presidential palace, though an exact date has not yet been officially announced.
Sources within the BNP indicated that the oath ceremony is likely to occur on February 16 or 17, depending on administrative preparations and constitutional procedures. Under Bangladesh’s Constitution, the cabinet’s oath-taking must be followed by the swearing-in of newly elected members of parliament, creating a tightly structured timeline for the formation of the new government.
However, officials acknowledged that the process has become procedurally complicated due to the current political situation. Normally, the speaker of the previous parliament administers the oath to newly elected lawmakers, but the former speaker has resigned and is reportedly in an undisclosed location, while the deputy speaker is currently in custody. A senior BNP aide noted that constitutional provisions allow the president to appoint an alternative authority to oversee the swearing-in of members of parliament under such exceptional circumstances.
The cabinet secretary explained that lawmakers must take their oath within three days of the official gazette notification of election results. Since the notification was issued on Saturday morning, legal interpretations suggest that the oath-taking window would fall between February 15 and February 17. Officials said preparations would proceed once final instructions are issued regarding the exact timing of the ceremony.
The elections themselves were closely watched both domestically and internationally, as they followed a prolonged period of political instability and security concerns. Bangladesh experienced a major political upheaval in August 2024 when widespread student-led protests ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. Hasina left the country for India on August 5, after which Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed charge as chief adviser of an interim government tasked with overseeing the transition and conducting fresh elections.
According to the Election Commission, the BNP won 209 of the 297 contested parliamentary seats, giving it a commanding legislative majority. The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats, emerging as another significant political force in the new parliament. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, was barred from contesting the elections, which recorded a voter turnout of 59.44 percent.
Election authorities have postponed the announcement of results in two constituencies—Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4—while polling in another seat was delayed following the death of a candidate. Despite these pending outcomes, the BNP’s overwhelming victory has already cleared the path for the formation of a new government.
As Bangladesh moves toward the swearing-in ceremony, the upcoming transfer of power is expected to mark the beginning of a new political phase following months of transition, institutional uncertainty, and significant changes in the country’s political landscape.
