DHAKA – Bangladesh is preparing for a shift in power as Tarique Rahman, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to be sworn in as prime minister on Tuesday, following the party’s landslide victory in the February 12th parliamentary elections. The ceremony, scheduled to accept place at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, will be attended by representatives from 13 nations, including India, China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to reports from Prothom Alo cited by ANI.
The invitation extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been welcomed by the BNP, which has signaled a desire for close ties with New Delhi. “We look forward to engaging constructively with India to advance our multifaceted relationship, guided by mutual respect, sensitivity to each other’s concerns, and a shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in our region,” the BNP stated in a post on X, likewise thanking Modi for his congratulatory message.
The election marks a significant turning point for Bangladesh, coming after the 2024 mass protests that led to the ousting of long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the establishment of an interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. Yunus, a Nobel laureate, oversaw a period of constitutional reform culminating in a national referendum on governance changes, which passed alongside the parliamentary election.
The BNP secured over the 151 seats required to form a government in the 300-seat parliament, positioning Rahman as prime minister-designate. The Jamaat-e-Islami alliance is expected to form the main opposition. Voter turnout in the election was approximately 59%.
Prior to the swearing-in, Chief Adviser Yunus has extended congratulations to Rahman on the BNP’s victory, signaling a smooth transition of power. Yunus’s role in overseeing the election and the preceding constitutional overhaul has been described as unprecedented, transforming him from a globally recognized humanitarian figure into a key architect of the country’s political transition.
BNP leader ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milan had previously expressed hope that leaders from across South Asia would be invited to the inauguration, emphasizing the party’s commitment to an inclusive foreign policy. “I don’t know exactly what they’re doing, but hopefully they’ll invite everyone,” Milan stated, adding that inviting Prime Minister Modi would be “general courtesy.”
The election results represent a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, following nearly two decades of Awami League rule. The BNP’s victory comes after the Awami League was officially barred from participating in the ballot.