For the last 35 years (since 1991), the office of the Prime Minister in Bangladesh has been held exclusively by two women: Sheikh Hasina (Awami League) and Begum Khaleda Zia (BNP).
Tarique Rahman becoming Prime Minister marks the first time a male leader will hold the position since the end of Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s era and the subsequent democratic transition.
As of today’s reports, the BNP-led alliance has secured a two-thirds majority in the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament).
The alliance has reportedly won 209 out of 300 seats.
This “supermajority” gives Tarique Rahman the legislative power to pursue the 31-point constitutional reform agenda he promised during the campaign.
From Exile to Power
Tarique Rahman’s victory is particularly significant because he has been leading the party from London for over a decade. His return to Dhaka following the 2024 uprising and the subsequent 2026 elections marks a dramatic shift in his political fortune, moving from a convicted exile under the previous regime to the leader-elect of the country.
While the BNP has secured the majority, the formal swearing-in ceremony and the official notification from the Election Commission are the final steps before he officially assumes the title of Prime Minister.
