Mohammed Shahabuddin, the President of Bangladesh, inaugurated Tarique Rahman as the new Prime Minister in a grand ceremony attended by thousands in Dhaka's South Square, marking the official transition of power accompanied by the swearing-in of his cabinet ministers. At the age of 60, Rahman takes leadership of the 170 million-strong nation from a transitional government that had been led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. The new Prime Minister is expected to lead a cabinet of 50 members, with details about ministerial portfolios to be announced soon.

This leadership transition concludes an 18-month interim period that began after a student uprising in August 2024 led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ending her 15-year tenure in power. Rahman, who is the son of former President Ziaur Rahman, is stepping into a complex political landscape shaped by years of familial and party legacy; the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was established by his father in 1978. Following a turbulent history marked by the assassination of Ziaur Rahman in 1981, Rahman’s mother, Khaleda Zia, led the party for nearly four decades, underlining the long-standing political dynasties at play in the country's governance.

Rahman's return to power underlines a significant shift in Bangladesh's political environment, suggesting the potential for new policies and approaches after years of his party's rigorous opposition to previous governments. Observers will be keenly watching how Rahman's leadership will address the pressing challenges facing Bangladesh, including economic challenges and social unrest, and how it might redefine the landscape of Bangladeshi politics in the coming years.