Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday took oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, after being chosen as the leader of the BNP parliamentary party. His oath-taking marks the formation of a new elected government in the country after a period of interim rule.

Rahman became Prime Minister after the BNP won a clear majority in the recent parliamentary elections. The party secured 209 seats out of 297 in Bangladesh’s Parliament. The Jamaat-e-Islami, which was earlier an ally of the BNP but is now considered its main political rival, won 68 seats in the February 12 elections. Meanwhile, the Awami League, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, did not participate in the election as the party was banned from contesting.

Along with Tarique Rahman, a large group of leaders also took oath as part of the new cabinet. A total of 25 ministers and 24 state ministers were sworn in. Reports said that the BNP cabinet will have 50 members, including three technocrats. Many of the ministers are new faces. Out of the 25 ministers, 17 are serving for the first time, and all state ministers are also new to their roles. Tarique Rahman himself is also joining the cabinet for the first time in his political career.

India was represented at the swearing-in ceremony by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who attended the event in Dhaka. He arrived in Bangladesh earlier in the day and was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials. According to reports, Birla was received on arrival by Bangladesh foreign ministry secretary Nazrul Islam.

Om Birla described the occasion as an important moment. He said that such events help strengthen people-to-people relations between India and Bangladesh and also reflect the shared democratic values of both countries.

An invitation had also been extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ceremony. Modi was among the first leaders to congratulate Tarique Rahman after the election results. However, he could not attend as he had a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on the same day.

The oath ceremony also marked the end of Bangladesh’s interim government. The interim administration had been leading the country since the removal of Sheikh Hasina in July 2024. The interim government was headed by Muhammad Yunus, who resigned on Monday, clearing the way for the newly elected government to take charge.

In his farewell speech before stepping down, Yunus urged the nation to continue following democratic principles. He said that although the interim government was leaving, the progress made in democracy, freedom of speech, and fundamental rights should not stop. He also appealed for the continuation of open discussion and public freedoms as the elected government takes over.

Security was tightened heavily around the venue of the oath ceremony. The swearing-in took place at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Bangladesh’s Parliament complex. The home ministry directed police and other agencies to ensure maximum safety at the location.

Bangladesh’s state-run news agency reported that law enforcement agencies were asked to take all necessary measures to protect the Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers during the event. A detailed security plan was prepared for the venue and the surrounding areas.

Special security arrangements were focused around the South Plaza, with the Special Security Force (SSF) responsible for ensuring strong protection during the Prime Minister’s movement.

The security convoy included police personnel, the Presidential Guard Regiment (PGR), SSF units, jammer systems, and security screening teams. Ambulance services and medical support were also included as part of the arrangements.

Even as the new government was being formed, political differences between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami became visible. The two parties disagreed on the issue of a “Constitution Reform Council”, which was created to implement the “July charter.”

The July charter was voted on by the public through a referendum held alongside the parliamentary elections. This charter calls for major changes to the Constitution. It included an 84-point proposal, which was presented in a detailed and complicated form for voting.

According to reports, the Jamaat-e-Islami MPs not only took oath as Members of Parliament but also took a second oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council. However, the BNP refused to take this second oath.

The Election Commission reported that more than 60% of voters supported the referendum by voting “yes.” Despite this, BNP leaders argued that the Constitution Reform Council does not yet have legal status.

BNP MP Salahuddin Ahmed was quoted as saying that they were not elected as members of the council and that there is currently no constitutional provision that officially includes such a council. This disagreement may create early tensions between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, even though both parties now hold major seats in Parliament.

The formation of the new government under Tarique Rahman comes at a key moment for Bangladesh. The country is moving from an interim administration to a fully elected leadership again, while also dealing with political rivalry, constitutional reform debates, and security concerns.

The coming days will show how the new government handles internal political challenges and how it shapes relations with neighbouring countries, including India.