The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is poised to reclaim power in Bangladesh after almost twenty years, with newly elected MPs gearing up for their oath-taking ceremony on Tuesday. The event will be held at the South Plaza of the Parliament Building, a departure from the traditional venue, in honor of those who lost their lives during the violent protests of 2024. This transition signifies a significant political shift for Bangladesh following the BNP’s resounding victory in the recent elections.
All 297 newly elected MPs are scheduled to be sworn in at 10:00 a.m. by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the Parliament’s Oath Room. The BNP, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, secured a decisive win in the parliamentary elections, paving the way for a new government to be formed. The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is expected to take place at 4:00 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, with around 1,200 dignitaries from Bangladesh and abroad anticipated to attend.
The ceremony will witness the presence of several notable international figures, including Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Indian Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma and Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa are also expected to participate, along with the UK’s Under-Secretary for the Indo-Pacific, Seema Malhotra. Invitations have been extended following diplomatic protocols, with confirmations pending from some invitees.
Preparations for the oath-taking ceremony are underway at the Jatiya Sangsad secretariat, with the Election Commission having published the official gazette notification of the winning candidates. The BNP emerged victorious in 209 out of 297 seats, with allies securing three seats, in the 13th parliamentary election. The party’s candidates are leading in constituencies where results are pending due to a High Court directive. Experts caution that with Tarique Rahman poised to lead Bangladesh, the nation faces the challenge of addressing unrest and rising Islamist extremism following the previous interim government’s tenure.
