New Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman sworn in, pledging to restore stability and tackle economic woes after a landmark election.
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was sworn into office on Tuesday.
The 60-year-old leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will lead the first elected government since a deadly 2024 uprising.
Rahman faces the immediate challenges of improving security, healing political rifts, and tackling economic woes.
He takes over from an interim government that has steered the country of 170 million people for 18 months.
“I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of prime minister of the government, in accordance with the law,” Rahman said at the ceremony.
He was sworn in by President Mohammed Shahabuddin outside the parliament building.
Rahman’s BNP coalition won a landslide victory in the February 12 elections, securing 212 seats.
“This victory belongs to Bangladesh, belongs to democracy,” Rahman said in his victory speech on Saturday.
He pledged to restore stability and revive growth after months of turmoil that rattled investor confidence.
The new leader also called for all parties to “remain united” in a polarised nation.
“We are about to begin our journey in a situation marked by a fragile economy,” he added in his speech.
His win marks a remarkable turnaround after 17 years in exile in Britain.
The Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, which won 77 seats, has challenged results in 32 constituencies.
Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman said the Islamist party would serve as a “vigilant, principled, and peaceful opposition”.
Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party was barred from taking part in the elections.
Hasina, sentenced to death in absentia, issued a statement from India decrying an “illegal” election.
India, however, praised the BNP’s “decisive win” in a notable diplomatic shift.
Only seven women were directly elected to the new parliament.
A further 50 seats reserved for women will be allocated to parties based on their vote share.
Four members of minority communities won seats, including two Hindus.
Voting day passed without major unrest despite weeks of pre-poll turbulence.
“If the BNP can do a good job with the economy, it will make everything else easier for the government,” Crisis Group analyst Thomas Kean said.
