Bangladesh’s New Cabinet Oath on Tuesday: Tarique Rahman Set to Take Charge

Bangladesh’s newly elected Members of Parliament will take oath on Tuesday morning, and the new cabinet led by Tarique Rahman will be sworn in the same evening. The Chief Election Commissioner is expected to administer the MPs’ oath at 10 am, while the President will swear in the cabinet at 4 pm. BNP has secured a clear majority, winning 209 out of 297 seats. Tarique Rahman is now set to become prime minister for the first time.

Oath Ceremony Schedule Confirmed

The day is already tightly planned. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin is likely to administer the oath to MPs in the morning. Later in the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will oversee the cabinet swearing-in at the Jatiya Sangsad complex.

There was some confusion earlier about who would conduct the oath. The previous Speaker resigned and remains at an undisclosed location. The deputy speaker is currently in jail. Under the Constitution’s Third Schedule, the CEC becomes the third option in such a case. So, most probably, the oath will go ahead under his supervision.

BNP’s Big Win and What It Means

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has emerged dominant. With 209 seats, it crosses the majority mark comfortably. Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats, becoming a significant player in the new Parliament.

After the swearing-in, BNP will quickly elect its parliamentary party leader. Tarique Rahman, as party chairman, is expected to step into the prime minister’s role. This marks a new political chapter.

He replaces interim government chief Muhammad Yunus. During Yunus’s tenure, relations between Dhaka and New Delhi saw visible strain. Many will watch how Rahman handles foreign policy, especially ties with India.

Regional Attention on Dhaka

Bangladesh has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other regional leaders to attend the ceremony on February 17. That signals an attempt to reset diplomatic equations. The event is not just domestic. It carries regional weight.

The 13th parliamentary election, held on February 12, followed months of instability. The political vacuum began after student-led protests brought down Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule in August 2024. Her Awami League party was barred from contesting this election.

Voter turnout stood at 59.44 percent. Given the tense atmosphere and security concerns, that figure is being closely discussed.

New Opposition Voice Emerging

Meanwhile, the student-led National Citizen Party is preparing to form a shadow cabinet. The idea is simple. Act as a watchdog. Keep pressure on the government. Raise issues in public view.

Bangladesh now enters a fresh phase. A strong majority government, a reshaped opposition, and public expectations running high. Tuesday’s oath ceremony is more than formal ritual. It signals the start of a new power structure in Dhaka, and maybe a different political tone altogether.