Tariq Rahman led BNP secures landslide victory in Bangladesh elections, new cabinet to take oath on February 17
Dhaka: The path for the formation of a new government has become clear following the landslide victory of Tariq Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the parliamentary elections of 2026. The BNP has registered a historic win by securing 211 out of 299 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami obtained 68 seats.
According to officials, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new cabinet on Tuesday, February 17, at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Complex. As per agency report, this ceremony is being organized at the Parliament complex instead of the traditional presidential palace, Bangabhaban, and preparations for the event have begun in full swing.
The current situation in Bangladesh has made the constitutional process slightly challenging regarding the swearing-in of lawmakers. Due to the resignation of the Speaker of the previous parliament and the imprisonment of the Deputy Speaker, the responsibility of administering the oath to the newly elected Members of Parliament will now be fulfilled by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin. Under the constitution, the CEC is authorized to administer the oath in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Close associates of Tariq Rahman have stated that considering the current circumstances, the President has decided to move this process forward using special powers to restore the democratic system in the country as soon as possible.
Major changes are also being observed in the administrative structure of Bangladesh just before the arrival of the new government. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has cancelled the appointment of Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid and appointed Siraj Uddin Mia as the new Chief Secretary in his place, although Rashid claims that he had already resigned. With the formation of the new cabinet, the term of the interim government will come to an end. The public is hopeful that this new government formed under the leadership of Tariq Rahman will usher in a new era of political stability and economic reforms in the country.
