Bangladesh’s new prime minister, Tarique Rahman, has been sworn in, sealing a dramatic comeback for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and formally closing the turbulent chapter that toppled Sheikh Hasina in 2024. The ceremony restored an elected government after 18 months of caretaker rule led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
For the BNP, the swearing-in marked a return from political wilderness after two decades out of power. Outside parliament, the mood was hopeful. ‘I’m not saying everything will change overnight,’ said Kamal Mia, 38, who joined the crowd. ‘But today feels different. Now we want them to work, bring prices down, stop corruption and let people live without fear.’
Rahman, 60, comes from a long political lineage: his mother was the late prime minister Khaleda Zia and his father, Ziaur Rahman, founded the BNP and was a key figure in Bangladesh’s 1971 independence struggle before being assassinated in 1981. The BNP won a commanding two-thirds majority in last week’s election, securing 212 seats in the 300-member parliament.
Rahman, who returned from self-imposed exile in London last year, said the government faced ‘very serious challenges’ in turning around the economy and clamping down on corruption. Inflation, job creation, law and order, and institutional reform are expected to dominate his early weeks. On foreign policy, he described China as a ‘development friend’ while aiming to strengthen ties with the West and reset relations with neighbouring India.
India sent a high-level delegation led by lower house speaker Om Birla, and UK minister for the Indo-Pacific Seema Malhotra also attended. The election ushered in new players: the youth-led National Citizen party won six seats, giving Gen Z a foothold. Voters approved a two-term limit for prime ministers and stronger judicial independence.
‘We’ve watched so much bad news for so long – today, people want to feel hopeful again,’ said Nila Begum, 33, clutching a flag as motorcades swept past. ‘Let them bring some calm.’
