Tarique Rahman sworn in as Bangladesh PM after landslide victory

DHAKA: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister on Tuesday, marking a decisive political shift in the South Asian nation following his party’s sweeping victory in parliamentary elections.

Rahman, 60, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and assassinated president Ziaur Rahman, assumes office at a time of significant political and economic challenges. He faces the task of restoring political stability, rebuilding investor confidence and reviving key industries, including the garment sector, after prolonged turmoil triggered by a Gen Z-led uprising that toppled former premier Sheikh Hasina in 2024.

An interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus governed the country during the transition period ahead of the elections.

In a break from tradition, the oath-taking ceremony was held under the open sky at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban instead of the Bangabhaban, where such ceremonies are typically organised.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Rahman and members of his cabinet in the presence of senior political leaders, diplomats, civil and military officials, and representatives from several countries, including China, India and Pakistan.

Rahman’s BNP secured a commanding two-thirds majority in parliament, returning to power after nearly two decades in opposition. The Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, contesting its first election since a 2013 ban was lifted following Hasina’s removal from office, won a record 68 seats.

Hasina’s Awami League was barred from contesting after the Election Commission revoked its registration.

Jamaat and its allies, including the National Citizen Party led by youth activists who played a prominent role in the movement that unseated Hasina, are set to form the opposition.

Rahman’s rise to the premiership caps a long and turbulent political journey. He returned to Bangladesh last year after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London, arriving shortly before his mother’s death.

Political rivals have frequently criticised his record, citing corruption allegations that he denies. However, his return reinvigorated party supporters and reshaped the BNP’s election campaign.

In his first remarks after the election, Rahman urged calm and restraint.

“Peace, law and order must be maintained at any cost,” he said, calling on supporters to avoid retaliation. “We will not tolerate any kind of chaos.”