Incoming Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman, lawmakers sworn into parliament | Bangladesh Election 2026 News
Lawmakers Sworn Into Parliament After Historic Elections in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Newly elected lawmakers were sworn into parliament Tuesday, following a decisive victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the country’s first elections since the student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Tarique Rahman, leader of the BNP, is set to take the oath as prime minister later the same day after his party secured more than a two-thirds majority in last week’s elections.
Inside the parliament’s oath room, lawmakers pledged fidelity to Bangladesh in a ceremony led by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Notable foreign dignitaries, including the foreign minister of Pakistan and the speaker of India’s parliament, attended the event.
Following the lawmakers’ swearing-in, cabinet members were scheduled to participate in a ceremony outside the parliament at 4 p.m. local time (10:00 GMT).
Despite heightened security, hundreds gathered outside the parliament grounds to witness the proceedings. Observers noted a public desire for change, with many calling for new, qualified representatives.
“The population is eager for new faces in parliament,” said Al Jazeera reporter Tanvir Chowdhury from Dhaka. “They want a shift in dynamics.”
In the recent elections, the BNP won at least 212 of the 300 parliamentary seats, establishing a clear majority. The Jamaat-e-Islami party claimed 77 seats, while Hasina’s Awami League was barred from participating in the polls.
Rahman will assume leadership from an interim government that had overseen the country for 18 months following Hasina’s departure. His administration will be tasked with implementing the July National Charter, a reform initiative that aims to overhaul the governance system in Bangladesh.
A referendum held concurrently with the election saw over 60 percent of the electorate voting in favor of the charter, which includes provisions for term limits, a bicameral parliament, and restrictions on amending laws unilaterally by the governing party.
Chowdhury indicated that expectations for significant reforms are high, particularly among younger citizens who were instrumental in the uprising. “They seek representation and wish to ensure their voices are heard in this new parliament,” he stated.
