Bangladesh is preparing for a landmark political transition as newly elected lawmakers and Cabinet members are set to be sworn in on Tuesday, marking the formation of the country’s first new parliament since the 2024 popular uprising that ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.

Officials confirmed that top diplomats and foreign ministers from member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) including Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony in front of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka. The high-level invitations underscore Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and democratic continuity.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath to the newly elected Members of Parliament, while the president will swear in the new Cabinet.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) official photo 

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a commanding two-thirds majority in Thursday’s general election, winning 209 out of 300 parliamentary seats. Party leader Tarique Rahman is set to assume office as prime minister, ushering in a new chapter in Bangladesh’s political journey.

According to the Election Commission, the BNP secured 49.97 percent of the vote, while the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance obtained 31.76 percent. The National Citizen Party (NCP), the youth-led platform that played a pivotal role in the 2024 uprising, received 3.5 percent of the vote.

Voter turnout reached 59.44 percent, a significant increase from 41.8 percent recorded in the January 2024 polls, reflecting renewed public confidence and participation in the democratic process. More than 127.6 million citizens were eligible to vote.

The Election Commission also released the results of Thursday’s constitutional reform referendum, with over 60 percent voting in favor, a move widely seen as part of broader institutional reforms following last year’s political upheaval.

The Jamaat alliance, which secured 77 seats, accepted the overall results but sought recounts in 32 constituencies over alleged irregularities. Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad said the party would pursue legal avenues while continuing parliamentary engagement. “We will take the oaths of office, go to parliament, and play a constructive role. At the same time, the streets will also be open for us,” he told reporters.

In a notable gesture of political reconciliation, Rahman visited Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman at his Dhaka residence on Sunday, where senior leaders discussed post-election developments. He is also scheduled to meet NCP chief Nahid Islam, a key figure in the 2024 movement, signaling efforts to foster dialogue and national unity.

According to TRT World, Bangladesh’s election marks a pivotal transition following the 2024 uprising, with international observers closely watching the country’s evolving democratic landscape.

With a clear parliamentary mandate, strong voter participation, and renewed regional engagement, Bangladesh now stands poised to consolidate democratic reforms and chart a forward-looking path of political stability and national development.

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