BNP Chief Tarique Rahman to Be Sworn In as Bangladesh Prime Minister on February 17

Dhaka: Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to be sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, February 17, following his party’s decisive win in last week’s parliamentary elections, officials and media reports said.

The oath-taking ceremony, scheduled to take place at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex in Dhaka, will mark the formal beginning of Rahman’s government after the BNP secured a commanding majority in the 13th national polls. The inauguration will be followed by the swearing-in of members of the new cabinet and elected parliamentarians later in the day.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to administer the oaths, reflecting a constitutionally mandated transition after one of the most closely watched elections in Bangladesh’s recent history. The ceremony’s location at the South Plaza — instead of the traditional presidential palace setting — reflects the incoming government’s decision and is seen as a symbolic shift in the country’s political landscape.

Rahman’s return to power follows a period of dramatic political change in Bangladesh. The February 12 election was the first held since the mass youth-led uprising in 2024 that ended the 15-year rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who later went into exile. The BNP’s victory is widely portrayed as a turning point and a renewal of democratic governance after years of polarisation and institutional strain.

The swearing-in day is expected to draw significant international attention. Leaders and high-level representatives from across South Asia and beyond have been invited to witness the transition, with countries including India, China, Pakistan and others among those on the guest list. India, opting for parliamentary representation, will send Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accompanied by senior officials, to attend the ceremony, underscoring the diplomatic significance of Dhaka-New Delhi ties under the new government.