Dhaka, February 17: Tarique Rahman was officially sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, following his party’s commanding victory in the recent general elections. In a break from tradition, President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, rather than at the Bangabhaban, where such ceremonies are typically held.

The oath ceremony took place after the new members of Parliament were sworn in earlier that morning by Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin.

Despite the significant political change, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took a distinct position from its ally Jamaat-e-Islami, refusing to take a second oath as part of the newly formed “Constitution Reform Commission.” The BNP cited that “no provision of the council has yet been incorporated into the Constitution,” highlighting their dissatisfaction with the process.

Meanwhile, a proposal suggests that the entire parliament will function as the “Constitution Reform Commission” for 180 days, following a successful referendum on February 12, 2026, where the majority voted ‘yes’ to the reform. However, concerns remain about how the responsibilities of the commission and parliamentary duties will be balanced in the coming months.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by prominent Indian leaders and officials, including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, marking a significant diplomatic presence during the event.