🗳️ Bangladesh swore in newly elected lawmakers on Tuesday—the first elected parliament since a deadly 2024 uprising—as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman prepared to become prime minister after his coalition’s landslide win in the February 12 election 1239. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath, and BNP lawmakers were expected to formally choose Rahman as their parliamentary leader before President Mohammed Shahabuddin swore in the new prime minister and cabinet later the same day 193.
The changeover ends an 18-month interim period that began after the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s government, marking a return to elected rule in a country of about 170 million people 129. Rahman has cast the result as a mandate to strengthen democratic institutions and urged unity in a polarized political landscape, while warning that the next government inherits economic strain and law-and-order concerns that have weighed on investor confidence in a major garment-exporting economy 1.
A procedural dispute also emerged over an additional oath linked to a “Constitution Reform Commission.” Bangladesh’s election authority had said the ceremony would include such an oath, but BNP lawmakers said they would not take a separate pledge tied to constitutional changes, arguing they were elected as MPs and that the commission’s provisions are not yet part of the constitution 46.
Sources
- Bangladesh PM-to-be Tarique Rahman and lawmakers sworn into parliament [dawn.com] (2026-02-17)
- Bangladesh’s incoming PM Tarique Rahman sworn into parliament [theguardian.com] (2026-02-17)
- Tarique Rahman To Take Oath As Bangladesh's Prime Minister Today [ndtv.com] (2026-02-16)
- BNP members sworn in as MPs; party says they will not take oath for changing existing constitution [thehindu.com] (2026-02-17)
- Watch: Tarique Rahman to take oath as Bangladesh PM today [thehindu.com] (2026-02-17)
- Bangladesh Govt. Oath Ceremony LIVE updates: New MPs sworn in; BNP declines second oath as 'Constitution Reform Commission' members [thehindu.com] (2026-02-17)
- Oath taking ceremony of new MPs, ‘Constitution Reform Commission’ and new Bangladesh government on February 17 [thehindu.com] (2026-02-17)
- Tarique Rahman set to take oath as Bangladesh PM; Om Birla to represent India [firstpost.com] (2026-02-17)
- Incoming Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman, lawmakers sworn into parliament [aljazeera.com] (2026-02-17)
Highlights
- Public turnout: Hundreds of people gathered outside the parliament grounds in Dhaka as lawmakers pledged allegiance during the swearing-in 9.
- Reform oath dispute: The Election Commission said the Feb. 17 ceremony would include an extra oath tied to a “Constitution Reform Commission,” but BNP MPs said they would take only the MP oath—not a separate reform-commission oath 46.
- Rahman profile: Rahman, 60, is widely seen as the scion of one of Bangladesh’s most powerful political dynasties 1.
- Victory message: After the election, Rahman said the win belonged to democracy and those who “aspire to and have sacrificed for democracy” 1.
Perspectives
Tarique Rahman (BNP): He described the result as a pro-democracy mandate, while warning that the new government inherits a fragile economy, weakened institutions, and a worsening law-and-order situation.
BNP lawmakers: They said they would take the MP oath, but not a separate oath as “Constitution Reform Commission” members, arguing the commission has no constitutional basis yet.
Election Commission of Bangladesh: It said the Feb. 17 ceremony would include oaths for both parliamentary membership and membership of the Constitution Reforms Commission.