Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister on Tuesday afternoon, in a ceremonial meeting freighted with historical importance with international dignitaries around the globe at the country’s last port of call. At the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament), President Mohammed Shahabuddin presided over the oath of office in a significant shift from the traditional Bangabhaban venue signaling a shift toward more visible governance.
The Return from Exile
His rise to the premiership is being hailed as one of the most impressive reversals in contemporary political history. Rahman returned to Bangladesh in late 2025 from 17 years in self-exile in London after a crackdown by the military-backed caretaker government in 2007, when he moved in to a new home following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in 2024.
After being found not guilty on multiple politically motivated charges by the courts last year, he won a landslide victory in the general elections on February 12, 2026 for the BNP. The BNP and its allies won a strong two-thirds majority in the 300-member parliament by capturing more than 212 seats.
Defeating the "Battle of Begums"
Rahman’s inauguration represents a major changes and a shift in the composition of the top leadership of Bangladesh. He is the first male Prime Minister in 35 years, breaking a long rule dominated by his mother, Begum Khaleda Zia, and her recently ousted predecessor Sheikh Hasina, whose decades of power were often described as the "Battle of the Begums." Rahman, 60, is now overseeing a 49-member cabinet, comprising 25 ministers and 24 state ministers. Two prominent veterans, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Amir Khoshru Mahmud Chowdhury, have served as important ministers.
The Diplomatic Presence and National Challenges
Several international representatives were on hand to greet the swearing-in a cautious, but hopeful, opportunity to restart Bangladesh's foreign relations. Notable attendees included:
- Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha (India).
- Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bhutan.
- Representatives from Pakistan, China, and the United Kingdom.
In his inaugural language following the oath, Prime Minister Rahman pledged to pursue “clean politics” and the restoration of democratic order. “This victory belongs to the people who sacrificed for democracy,” he declared.
But for all of this, he has immediate challenges facing him: a fragile economy, compromised state institutions, and a polarized political climate in the aftermath of the 2024 uprising. Opposition Stance. The transition was not without strife. The Jamaat-e-Islami -- the government's main opposition with 77 seats and the National Citizens Party (NCP) are reported to have boycotted the ceremony, laying bare the profound divides which the new prime minister will now have to overcome.
As the 180-day “Constitution Reform Commission” sets off on a course of work with the new parliament, anyone and everyone can only be asking if Tarique Rahman will bring the same stability and growth he promised during his campaign or not.
