By Micah Jonah
February 17, 2026
Newly elected lawmakers in Bangladesh have been sworn into parliament following a decisive electoral victory by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in last week’s general elections.
Incoming Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to take his oath of office later on Tuesday, paving the way for the BNP to formally assume power after securing more than a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament.
The elections marked the first national vote since the 2024 student-led uprising that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office. Her party, the Awami League, was barred from participating in the polls.
During Tuesday’s ceremony in Dhaka, lawmakers pledged allegiance to Bangladesh as they were sworn in by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Foreign dignitaries, including Pakistan’s foreign minister and India’s parliamentary speaker, were present at the event.
Despite heightened security, hundreds of supporters gathered outside the parliament complex, celebrating what many described as a new political chapter for the South Asian nation.
The BNP reportedly secured at least 212 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami party won 77 seats, consolidating a strong parliamentary majority for the incoming administration.
Rahman will succeed the interim government that has overseen Bangladesh’s affairs for the past 18 months. His administration is expected to implement the July National Charter, a sweeping reform document approved by more than 60 percent of voters in a referendum held alongside the election.
The charter proposes major governance reforms, including the introduction of term limits, the creation of a bicameral legislature, and restrictions on unilateral constitutional amendments by the ruling party.
Political observers say expectations are high, particularly among younger citizens who played a central role in the July uprising and are demanding structural reforms and broader representation in government.
