Bangladesh has entered a new phase of its politics with the election of Tarique Rahman as prime minister, the first to take office since the July Revolution of 2024. His Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led alliance won a strong majority in the general election held on 12 Feb. 2026, giving it control of parliament for a five‑year term.
Rahman was formally sworn in on 17 Feb., 2026 in Dhaka, where he took the oath of office alongside members of his new cabinet. The vote was widely viewed as a key test of whether the promises of the 2024 uprising, free, competitive, and credible elections, could be realised in practice.
The July Revolution began as student protests over job quotas and concerns about declining democracy, then escalated into a nationwide movement that forced longtime leader Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country in August 2024. In the aftermath of her departure, an interim, non‑party administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed, with Yunus serving as chief adviser and heading a cabinet drawn from civil society and experts.
The new government now faces high expectations to honour the core demands of the July Revolution, to reduce corruption, ensure fair access to jobs, and safeguard democratic freedoms. Many citizens, especially the young people who drove the 2024 protests, will be watching closely to see whether this administration delivers genuine, lasting reform rather than simply a change of leadership.
Featured image: Reuters
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