What's happened
Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister after his party's landslide victory, returning the BNP to power after 17 years. The election was marked by a ban on the main opposition, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, amid political turmoil and promises of reform.
What's behind the headline?
The election marks a decisive shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, with Rahman’s BNP returning to power after nearly two decades. The victory consolidates the party’s influence and signals a rejection of the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina, who remains in exile. The election was conducted under a transitional government, with the main opposition barred from participating, raising questions about the legitimacy and fairness of the process. Rahman’s government faces urgent challenges, including restoring stability, rebuilding investor confidence, and implementing a new governance charter that introduces term limits and parliamentary reforms. The presence of foreign dignitaries at the swearing-in underscores the international interest in Bangladesh’s political direction. The political landscape is now characterized by a more polarized environment, with the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami gaining seats as the opposition, and the banning of Hasina’s party complicating future political dynamics. The next months will reveal whether Rahman’s government can deliver on promises of reform and stability amid ongoing tensions and regional geopolitics.
What the papers say
The coverage from The Japan Times, Al Jazeera, AP News, and Reuters provides a comprehensive view of Bangladesh’s recent election. The sources highlight Rahman’s return from exile, the electoral victory, and the political context, including the banning of Sheikh Hasina’s party and the international presence at the swearing-in. While The Japan Times emphasizes the political shift, Al Jazeera offers insight into the new cabinet and the political figures involved. AP News and Reuters focus on the electoral process, regional implications, and the challenges ahead for Rahman’s government. The contrasting perspectives underscore the complexity of Bangladesh’s current political environment, with some sources emphasizing legitimacy concerns and others highlighting the potential for reform.
How we got here
Rahman’s return to power follows a period of political instability, including the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024 and a transitional government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The election results, with a two-thirds majority for Rahman’s alliance, signal a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, emphasizing reforms and a move towards closer ties with China and a balanced relationship with India.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
Tarique Rahman is a Bangladeshi politician who is the current acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party since February 2018. He has been residing in London with his family since he left Bangladesh in September 2008.
-
Sheikh Hasina, also known by her married name Sheikh Hasina Wazed, is a Bangladeshi politician serving as the 10th Prime Minister of Bangladesh, having held the office since January 2009.
-
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 162 million people.
-
Khaleda Zia is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996, and again from 2001 to 2006.
-
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is a center-right nationalist political party in Bangladesh and one of the major political parties of Bangladesh.
-
Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, economist, and civil society leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance.
-
Ziaur Rahman was a Bangladesh Army officer and later turned statesman who served as the President of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981. He was assassinated on 30 May 1981 in Chittagong in an army coup d'état.