The test of Bangladesh’s new PM Tariq will begin with the oath taking ceremony today, two big challenges are ahead.

Tarique Rahman Oath Taking Ceremony: bangladesh There is going to be a big change in politics. After a landslide victory in the general elections, Bangladesh Nationalist Party President Tariq Rahman will take oath as the new Prime Minister of the country on Tuesday, February 17 at 4 pm. This will be the first time that Rehman will hold the post of Prime Minister after the landslide victory against Jamaat-e-Islami. But, given the condition Bangladesh is in, it is going to be quite challenging for Rahman to bring it back to the right condition.

In the 13th parliamentary elections, Rahman’s BNP won 209 out of 297 seats, while the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. Deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League was banned from contesting the elections.

Had relations with India soured?

Rahman will replace Mohammad Yunus as head of the interim government. There was a significant deterioration in relations between Dhaka and New Delhi during Yunus’s tenure, after Yunus took charge after the fall of the Hasina government following massive anti-government protests in August 2024.

How will Tariq Rehman’s swearing-in ceremony take place?

Tariq Rehman’s swearing-in ceremony will, contrary to tradition, be held in the South Plaza of the Parliament complex and not in Banga Bhavan. President Mohammad Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new cabinet members at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday afternoon. According to government news agency BSS, Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat Secretary Kaneez Maula said that the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 4 pm on Tuesday.

Why is the morning parliamentary party meeting important?

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer oath to all the newly elected MPs. All 297 MPs of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will take oath first as MPs and then as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. BNP has called a parliamentary party meeting at Parliament House at 11:30 am, in which the leader of the parliamentary party will be elected.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that as the leader of the majority party, party president Tariq Rehman will be the Prime Minister. According to constitutional provisions, immediately after the oath, BNP MPs will elect their leader, who will be invited by the President to form the government.

What are the two big challenges for Rahman?

Given the situation in Bangladesh in the last two years, many big challenges are going to arise for Tariq. The two most important of these are handling the economy and ensuring good governance. He had also mentioned this while talking to the media. Bangladesh is currently going through its worst phase. Along with the allegations of fundamentalism, the falling economy and continuous cases of violence are going to be a big challenge for the new government.

Along with this, unemployment and increasing economic insecurity among the youth can increase social dissatisfaction. Politically, the long-running polarization between Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Awami League remains a challenge to law and order and stability.

Who from India will attend Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony?

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will attend Rehman’s swearing-in ceremony from India’s side. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh are also likely to accompany him. BNP has invited about 1,200 domestic and foreign guests for this program. Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu, Türkiye’s Undersecretary Baris Ekinci and Sri Lanka’s Health and Mass Communications Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa will also attend the ceremony.

Who is Tariq Rehman?

Tariq Rehman is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and late President Ziaur Rehman, founder of BNP. He returned home two months ago after living in self-exile in London for 17 years. He has not held any public post till now. Analysts say that his family background has given him political understanding. When a journalist asked him how he would reconcile the millions of Awami League supporters, he replied, by ensuring the rule of law. He also said that there is no room for vendetta politics and attacks on the basis of political differences will not be tolerated.