Tarique Rahman has been officially sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, marking a dramatic political shift following last week’s parliamentary elections in which his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) achieved a landslide victory.

In the inauguration ceremony held Tuesday at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the 60-year-old leader, who now embarks on a five-year term at the helm of government. Dozens of cabinet ministers were sworn in alongside him.

“I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of prime minister, in accordance with the law,” Rahman declared during the ceremony. Lawmakers earlier pledged loyalty to the country in a separate oath administered by the Chief Election Commissioner.

Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and assassinated President Ziaur Rahman, succeeds an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, which oversaw the transition following the nationwide political upheaval that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.

Rahman’s BNP and its allies won a commanding majority in the February 12 election, capturing over 210 seats in the 350-seat national assembly and formally returning to power nearly two decades after their last administration. Jamaat-e-Islami and allied parties secured dozens of opposition seats.

Observers hailed the election as the first broadly participatory national poll since the 2024 uprising, noting peaceful voting conditions and broader public engagement. However, the Bangladesh Awami League, led by Hasina, was barred from contesting and has denounced the process as unfair from abroad.

Rahman’s government inherits a set of complex challenges, including rebuilding political stability, restoring investor confidence, and revitalizing key sectors such as the garment industry after prolonged economic and social disruption. Analysts also warn that balancing reform with entrenched political rivalries will be crucial.

In his first public remarks, Rahman emphasized national unity and a crackdown on disorder, appealing for cooperation across the political spectrum in a deeply polarized landscape.

In a noteworthy development, veteran politician Nitai Roy Chowdhury, a prominent Hindu leader within the BNP, was sworn in as a minister — signaling an effort by the new government to broaden representation and engage minority communities.

As Rahman assumes leadership, diplomatic engagements are expected to intensify, with regional partners monitoring Dhaka’s new trajectory. Political scientists suggest that his administration’s approach to governance and international relations will shape Bangladesh’s future direction following years of turmoil.

Rahman’s rise from long exile to premiership underscores a remarkable political comeback and ushers in a new chapter in Bangladesh’s governance, with deep implications for democracy, stability and economic recovery. (ILKHA)