Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sworn in as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, marking a historic political transition in the South Asian nation. Rahman, 60, becomes the first male prime minister since 1991 and will lead a five-year term following his party's overwhelming victory in the February 12, 2026, general elections—the first since the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Rahman and his 49-member Cabinet in a televised ceremony held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) building in Dhaka. The Cabinet includes 25 ministers and 24 state ministers. Key appointments include:
Khalilur Rahman (technocrat) as Foreign Minister.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as Minister for Finance and Planning.
Rahman himself retained the Defense portfolio.
Earlier in the day, 297 newly elected lawmakers—including members from the BNP and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led bloc—were sworn in for the 13th Parliament by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Elections for three seats were postponed, while 50 reserved seats for women will be allocated based on parties' vote shares.
The BNP-led coalition secured a decisive two-thirds majority, winning 212 seats in the 300-member parliament (with the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance taking 77), according to official results and media reports. The Awami League was barred from contesting. Voter turnout reached 59.44% among over 127.6 million eligible voters—up from 41.8% in the disputed January 2024 polls. A concurrent referendum on constitutional reforms (the July Charter) passed with over 60% approval, signaling public support for changes to prevent one-party dominance and strengthen democratic institutions.
The swearing-in ceremony drew international attention, with foreign dignitaries attending, including:
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu
Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay
Pakistan Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal
India's Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
UK Under-Secretary Seema Malhotra
Outgoing interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus—who headed the caretaker government since August 8, 2024—attended alongside his team. Yunus resigned on February 16, 2026, in a farewell address, hailing the transition as a return to democratic practice after 18 months of interim rule.
The 2024 uprising, sparked by student protests against job quotas and escalating into a broader anti-government movement, forced Hasina to flee to India on August 5, 2024. Yunus was appointed chief adviser under a "doctrine of necessity" to restore order, prosecute abuses, and prepare for elections. His administration banned Awami League activities and advanced reforms via commissions on the constitution, judiciary, elections, and anti-corruption.
Rahman's rise completes a dramatic reversal: the BNP leader lived in self-imposed exile in London since 2008 amid corruption charges (widely viewed as politically motivated under Hasina). He returned in December 2025 and led the BNP to victory, promising economic revival, democratic restoration, and accountability.
The new government faces immediate challenges: stabilizing the economy amid inflation and debt pressures, rebuilding institutions, addressing post-uprising grievances, and navigating relations with neighbors like India (where Hasina remains in exile) and Myanmar. Rahman has pledged to work for national unity and inclusive development.
The ceremony symbolizes Bangladesh's shift from 15 years of Awami League rule to a new era under BNP leadership, with hopes for renewed stability and progress after years of polarization.
