The new government is going to be sworn in today, February 17, in India’s neighboring country Bangladesh. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Tariq Rahman, is going to be sworn in as the next Prime Minister. Representatives of many countries have received invitations for the swearing-in ceremony, which includes India. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent the country from India’s side. With this, it is expected that a new political era will begin in Bangladesh from today. But looking at the current situation in Bangladesh, it can be said that this journey is going to be full of challenges for Tariq Rahman.
In the general elections held on 12 February 2026, BNP and its allies won more than two-thirds majority by winning about 212 out of 299 seats. The election was the first general election held after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024, in which the Awami League was prevented from contesting. 60-year-old Tariq Rehman is going to take the reins of power today after BNP got an overwhelming majority in the 13th parliamentary general elections.
The coronation of Tariq Rehman is also going to be different. This time the swearing-in ceremony is being held in the South Plaza of the Sansad Bhavan (Jatiya Sansad) instead of the Rashtrapati Bhavan ‘Banga Bhavan’, which is different from the long-standing tradition. According to the information, the swearing in of the MPs will take place first, for which the time has been fixed at 10.00 am. After this, Tariq Rehman will take oath as Prime Minister at 4.00 pm. Earlier, a meeting of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been called for the election of parliamentary party leader at 11:30 am.
Tariq Rahman, first male Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Tariq Rahman will become the first male Prime Minister of Bangladesh since 1991, as power has been ruled by either Khaleda Zia or Sheikh Hasina for the last three decades. Tariq Rehman will replace Mohammad Yunus as head of the interim government. After Sheikh Hasina fled the country, Mohammad Yunus was taking over the power of Bangladesh as an interim government. India-Bangladesh relations saw ups and downs during Yunus’s tenure. Now all eyes are on Tariq Rehman’s foreign policy, especially his initiatives towards improving relations with India.
These challenges before Tariq Rehman
The new journey for Tariq Rehman is going to be full of challenges. It is hoped that he will be able to stabilize the country’s fragile and weak economy. Many challenges are facing Tariq Rehman including restoring law and order in the country, stopping religious violence, strengthening weak constitutional institutions, restoring relations with India, controlling the influence of Pakistan and ISI, reducing China’s increasing interference, ending communal tension.