Bangladesh Turns a Page as Tarique Rahman Takes Charge
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Dhaka
- Feb 17, 2026
- 545
A consequential new chapter has opened in Bangladesh’s political trajectory. Following a decisive electoral mandate, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarek Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister, formally concluding the 18-month interim administration.
At the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the oath of office was administered by President Md Sahabuddin.
Earlier in the afternoon, Rahman had been elected leader of the parliamentary party, thereby assuming executive authority for the first time. His return to frontline politics marks a significant personal and institutional moment: after 17 years in London, he came back to Bangladesh just two months ago. He is the son of former President জিয়াউর রহমান and former Prime Minister খালেদা জিয়া, anchoring his premiership within a deeply entrenched political lineage.
Rahman was sworn in alongside 25 cabinet ministers and 24 state ministers. Notably, 17 members of the cabinet are new entrants, while all state ministers are first-time appointees—signaling a generational recalibration within the executive. The appointment of Nitai Roy Chowdhury as a full minister, representing the Hindu community, has been interpreted as a deliberate gesture toward inclusivity in governance.
Electoral Mandate and Reformist Ambition
In the general election, the BNP secured 209 of the 299 parliamentary seats, thereby achieving a clear single-party majority. With an additional three seats held by allies, the formation of government proceeded without procedural impediment.
Yet the euphoria of electoral triumph has been tempered by intensifying debate over the proposed “July Charter” and its associated constitutional reforms. Concurrently with the 12 February general election, a referendum recorded 62 percent support for the Charter.
Under the proposed framework, the newly constituted Parliament would function as a Constituent Assembly for 180 days, tasked with undertaking structural reforms to the Constitution and key democratic institutions. Among the salient provisions:
Imposition of a two-term or ten-year cap on the office of Prime Minister.
Prohibition on the Prime Minister concurrently serving as party chief.
Mandatory written consent from both the Cabinet and the Leader of the Opposition prior to declaring a state of emergency.
Expansion of presidential appointment powers and the introduction of a bicameral legislature.
Collectively, these measures aim to recalibrate executive dominance and embed a more robust system of institutional checks and balances.
Constitutional Legitimacy in Question
Despite having endorsed the July Charter, BNP leaders contend that the drafting process lacked adequate consultation. Senior party figure Salahuddin Ahmed has stated that BNP Members of Parliament will not take a separate oath as members of a proposed “Constitutional Reform Council.”
The party argues that no such council is recognized under the existing Constitution and, therefore, any parallel oath would be ultra vires. Its position is that constitutional amendment must precede the formal establishment of such a body, ensuring a legally tenable basis for its authority. Consequently, members have taken oath solely as parliamentarians, eschewing the envisaged dual-oath framework.
Ceremonial Departures and International Presence
Breaking with precedent, members of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad were sworn in at the South Plaza. The oath was administered at 10:42 a.m. by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasiruddin amid stringent security arrangements. Over a thousand domestic and international dignitaries attended the ceremony. Invitations were extended to 13 countries, with India represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
A Defining Inflection Point
Bangladesh now stands at a pivotal juncture. The new administration commands an unambiguous parliamentary majority, yet it must navigate the intricate and politically sensitive terrain of constitutional restructuring. The durability of its mandate will depend not merely on numerical strength, but on its capacity to forge cross-party consensus around institutional reform.
How effectively the July Charter is operationalized—balancing executive authority with systemic accountability—will determine whether this moment evolves into a substantive democratic consolidation or devolves into renewed constitutional contention.