In a historic milestone for Bangladesh's democracy, 297 newly elected lawmakers from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance took their oaths on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, marking the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) following the February 12, 2026, general elections and concurrent constitutional referendum.
The oath-taking ceremony was administered by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the oath room of the National Parliament Building in Dhaka. Hundreds gathered outside the parliament grounds to witness the event, which symbolizes the country's transition from the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to an elected administration.
The elections, held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, were the first since the July 2024 student-led uprising—known as the July Uprising—that toppled the 15-year rule of the Awami League under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5, 2024. The uprising resulted in approximately 1,400 deaths, mostly youths, and thousands injured amid widespread protests against authoritarian governance.
The Awami League boycotted the 2026 polls after being barred from contesting, following its controversial January 2024 election that faced similar opposition boycotts. The 2026 vote saw a turnout of around 60%, with the BNP-led coalition securing a commanding two-thirds majority: 212 seats out of 297 declared (three seats postponed). BNP alone won approximately 209 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, including the student-born National Citizen Party (NCP), claimed 77 seats (Jamaat securing a record 68).
The concurrent referendum on the July National Charter—a consensus document from the interim period outlining over 80 reforms to safeguard democracy, enhance women's representation, impose term limits, strengthen judicial independence, and restructure governance—received overwhelming approval, with around 70-80% voting "yes" in various reports. This mandate requires the new parliament to function as a Constitutional Reform Council and implement the Charter's provisions within specified timelines (180-270 days).
Following the oath, BNP lawmakers convened their first parliamentary party meeting and unanimously elected party chairman Tarique Rahman as Leader of the House and prime minister-elect. Rahman, 60, son of late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to Bangladesh in December 2025 after 17 years in self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom. He is poised to become the country's first male prime minister in 35 years, leading a cabinet of around three dozen members.
Rahman and his cabinet were scheduled to take their oaths later Tuesday afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Dignitaries from Bangladesh and abroad, including foreign leaders, were expected to attend. The ceremony breaks tradition by being held at the parliament complex rather than Bangabhaban.
Notably, BNP lawmakers did not take a separate oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, a decision protested by the Jamaat-led bloc, which did so. This stems from the July Charter agreement among parties during the interim period, formalized through the referendum.
The interim government, formed on August 8, 2024, under Muhammad Yunus after Hasina's ouster, successfully conducted the polls and will hand over power once the new administration is sworn in. The 50 reserved women's seats in parliament will be allocated based on party representation once sessions begin.
The BNP's landslide victory reflects public desire for change after years of political turmoil, with Rahman promising democratic reforms, economic stability, and accountability. However, challenges remain, including stabilizing law and order, addressing economic issues, and navigating relations with neighbors amid the Charter's implementation.
As Bangladesh embarks on this new chapter, the focus shifts to how the elected government will deliver on reform promises and foster inclusive governance in the post-uprising era.
