NEW DELHI: Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s first male prime minister in 36 years on Tuesday after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a landslide in the 2026 general elections. His ascent to the top post ended a political era long dominated by rivals Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia and marked a decisive transition after months of unrest and interim rule.
Representing India at the ceremony, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla attended the swearing-in in Dhaka and later handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi inviting Rahman to visit India. Rahman took the oath at the Jatiya Sangsad complex, where President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the ceremony in the presence of senior political leaders, diplomats and foreign observers. “I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of prime minister of the government in accordance with the law,” Rahman said in a televised address, pledging to steer the country towards stability and democratic consolidation.
The BNP secured a commanding two-thirds majority in the February 12 polls, winning 209 seats with 49.97 per cent of the vote. The results, declared on February 13, were widely viewed as the first full national mandate since the political crisis that led to the exit of Hasina and the installation of an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Rahman’s rise is also unprecedented in personal terms. He has never previously held public office, making this his first entry into government, including the cabinet, even during his party’s earlier stints in power. In a signal of generational change, 17 ministers and 24 state ministers in the new administration are first-time office holders.
India moved quickly to underline continuity in bilateral ties despite the political transition. After attending the ceremony, Birla described the swearing-in as “an important moment” that would strengthen shared democratic values and people-to-people relations between the two neighbours. During a courtesy meeting with Rahman, he conveyed Modi’s best wishes and formally extended the invitation to visit India.
“India stands ready to support Bangladesh’s endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation,” Birla said, signalling New Delhi’s intent to maintain close engagement with Dhaka, a key partner in South Asia with deep economic, cultural and security linkages to India.
Officials said Rahman conveyed greetings to Modi and expressed optimism about advancing a people-centric agenda of cooperation. On the sidelines of the ceremony, Birla also met regional leaders, reflecting the wider diplomatic attention surrounding Bangladesh’s transition.
For Bangladesh, Rahman’s decisive mandate offers an opportunity to stabilise governance after a turbulent phase. For the region, his swearing-in marks the beginning of a new political chapter which breaks with nearly four decades of leadership defined by Hasina and Zia, and opens a fresh phase in Dhaka’s domestic and regional engagement.
Meanwhile in an interesting development, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday refused to take a second oath linked to the Constitution Reform Council proposed by the outgoing caretaker government led by Muhammad Yunus, even as ally Jamaat-e-Islami threatened boycotts and street protests.
Senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said MPs were elected to Parliament, not to a council “that has no constitutional basis.” He argued the body would gain legitimacy only after parliamentary approval, despite a February 12 referendum backing it with 62 per cent support.