Tarique Rahman sworn in Bangladesh’s Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Rahman leads twenty-five cabinet ministers and twenty-four state ministers, all sworn in by President Shahabuddin.
Tarique Rahman: Bangladesh’s Surprise Comeback King
Picture this: fireworks crackling over Dhaka’s chaotic streets, crowds chanting in the humid night air, five days after a nail-biting election that flipped Bangladesh’s script. Tarique Rahman, the silver-haired chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), stepped onto the global stage Tuesday, February 17, 2026, sworn in as Prime Minister. After 20 long years in the shadows—exile, jail stints, and whispers of corruption—he’s back, fist raised like a phoenix from the Padma River mud. It’s the stuff of political fairy tales, or nightmares, depending on who you ask.
Tarique, 59 now, isn’t your cookie-cutter leader. Son of the legendary Ziaur Rahman, who founded the BNP and ruled until his 1981 assassination, he grew up in power’s glare. But life hit hard: accused in a 2004 grenade attack, labeled a “future terrorist,” he fled to London in 2008. From a suburban exile, he masterminded the BNP’s digital war machine—virtual rallies, WhatsApp whispers—keeping the flame alive while Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League gripped power like a vice. Hasina’s fall in August 2024, toppled by student fury over quotas and jobs, cracked the door. BNP surged in the February 12 polls, snagging over 200 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad.
The swearing-in at Bangabhaban was pure theater. Draped in a crisp white panjabi, Tarique took the oath before President Mohammed Shahabuddin, eyes steely under kohl-lined brows. “This is the people’s victory,” he declared, voice gravelly from years of silence. Supporters mobbed the streets, waving green BNP flags, while Hasina loyalists sulked. It’s redemption for a man who spent a decade plotting comebacks from afar, rallying a youth tired of one-party rule.
From Exile to Powerhouse
Tarique’s journey feels personal, almost cinematic. Jailed in 2018 on graft charges (dropped post-upheaval), he endured solitary, emerging gaunt but unbroken. Now, his promises hit home: jobs for 40% youth unemployment, anti-corruption drives, and mending ties with India—strained under Hasina’s iron fist. Dhaka’s rickshaw pullers grin at flood control pledges; garment girls dream of fair wages.
Yet shadows linger. Critics dub him “Tarique Zia the terrorist,” dredging old scandals. Can he deliver without his late mother’s charisma? Early moves hint yes: cabinet packed with tech-savvy youngsters, vows to probe Hasina-era disappearances.
A Nation Holds Its Breath
Bangladesh, squeezed between India and Myanmar, buzzes with hope and jitters. Economy’s reeling—textile exports down 15% post-turmoil—but Tarique eyes FDI from China, Gulf cash for ports. Neighbors watch: India frets over Islamist fringes in BNP; Delhi’s Jaishankar already dialing.
For everyday folk—tea stall owners, flood-prone farmers—this is their shot. Tarique’s not just PM; he’s the guy who beat the machine. As he settles into Ganabhaban, one wonders: will he heal divides or deepen them? In steamy Dhaka, politics is family dinner gone wild—passionate, messy, alive. Bangladesh’s next chapter? Buckle up.