Dhaka. Tariq Rahman was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday. President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered him the oath of office and secrecy in a simple ceremony held at the Parliament House. With this, the tenure of the interim government working in the country for the last 18 months ended.
In this swearing-in ceremony, along with the Prime Minister, 25 Cabinet Ministers and 24 Ministers of State were also administered the oath of office. Of the 25 cabinet ministers in the new Council of Ministers, 17 are new faces, while most of the 24 ministers of state have become part of the cabinet for the first time. A Hindu minister has also been included in the cabinet. Tariq Rehman himself has also become a part of a cabinet for the first time. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) President Tariq Rahman has become the Prime Minister for the first time. Earlier in the day, the party’s newly elected MPs had elected him as the parliamentary party leader. He is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and late President Ziaur Rehman. He returned to Bangladesh only two months ago after living in London for almost 17 years. His tenure will be for five years.
It is noteworthy that in the general elections held last Thursday, BNP achieved a clear majority by winning 209 out of 299 seats. The party easily crossed the mark of 150 seats required to form the government. Apart from this, its allies won three seats, which further strengthened the position of the alliance.
With the formation of the new government, a new chapter is being considered as the beginning in the politics of Bangladesh. Now everyone’s eyes are on what kind of priorities the new government sets on the front of economic reforms, political stability and international relations.