United News of Bangladesh

The first cabinet meeting of the newly formed government is set to be held on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting will be held at the Cabinet Room of the Cabinet Division at Secretariat at 3 pm. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will preside over the meeting, according to Cabinet Division sources. On Tuesday afternoon, the Prime Minister, 25 Ministers and 24 State Ministers  of the new government were sworn in. Later in the evening, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification allocating portfolios among them. The Prime Minister  began his day by placing a wreath at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar in the morning ,paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War. After the homage ceremony, he is expected to arrive at the Secretariat around 1:00pm where he will formally begin work at his designated office for the first time. He will be introduced to Cabinet Division officials and attend a brief exchange meeting. The Prime Minister will chair a special meeting of the new cabinet members at 3 pm. Although no specific agenda has been fixed, the meeting is primarily expected to be introductory in nature. The Prime Minister will hold a views-exchange meeting with secretaries of different ministries.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War on Wednesday, a day after taking oath and forming the government following a massive victory in the 13th national election. Tarique, as the Prime Minister, first paid tribute to the martyrs by placing a wreath at the altar of the National Memorial at Savar, on the outskirts of capital Dhaka, around 11am. Flanked by his new cabinet colleagues, he also placed another wreath at the altar of the memorial. After laying the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice for the independence of Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman appointed PM, interim government dissolved A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the three services gave a state salute, while a bugle played the last post on the occasion. Later, the Prime Minister signed the visitors’ book kept on the memorial premises. The newly elected Prime Minister also planted a ‘Parijat’ sapling on the memorial premises after placing the wreaths.  

Bangladesh marked a major political milestone on Tuesday as the interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, formally handed over power to a new administration under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. Accompanying this peaceful transition was a significant economic boost; the country’s foreign exchange reserves have crossed the $34.5 billion mark. Economic analysts view this surge as a positive indicator for the incoming government, providing much-needed stability as the nation enters a new democratic chapter. Arif Hossein Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, confirmed the updated figures. According to central bank sources, the primary driver for this increase is a massive spike in remittance inflows. Gross Reserves: $34.54 billion (as of February 17). IMF BPM-6 Calculation: $29.86 billion. January Remittance: $3.17 billion (the highest in a single month this year). February Momentum: $1.81 billion received in the first 16 days of the month. Central bank officials noted that expatriate Bangladeshis are increasingly using legal channels to send money home, significantly strengthening the nation's dollar holdings. Due to the surplus of dollars in the banking system, there were concerns about a sharp decline in the value of the US dollar. To maintain market equilibrium and ensure stability, Bangladesh Bank has been actively purchasing dollars from commercial banks. During the current fiscal year, FY2025-26, the central bank has purchased approximately $4.90 billion from the market. This marks a sharp reversal from previous years (2021-2024), where the bank was forced to sell nearly $34 billion to curb an unstable market.

Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will begin his first full day in office on Wednesday by paying homage to the country’s martyrs at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar. In the afternoon, he will chair the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed government at the Secretariat. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior administrative officials (secretaries) on the same day, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday. Tarique Rahman took oath as Prime Minister on Tuesday at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, administered by President Md. Sahabuddin. Following his swearing-in, ministers and state ministers of the new government took their oaths, marking the start of the BNP-led administration after nearly two decades. Tarique Rahman sworn in as Prime Minister Invitations to the ceremony were extended to world leaders from 13 countries including China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan. India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended as the official representative of New Delhi. Other notable attendees at the National Parliament South Plaza included outgoing Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and members of the advisory council, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, Chief Election Commissioner, Supreme Court judges, MPs, political leaders, the heads of the three armed forces, diplomats, senior journalists, and top civilian and military officials. Tarique Rahman: From London exile to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister In the national elections held last Thursday, the BNP won 209 seats while its allies secured three. For the first time in Bangladesh’s history, the swearing-in ceremony was held at the National Parliament Complex South Plaza instead of the President’s House (Banga Bhaban).

The government has issued a gazette notification appointing BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, marking the dissolution of the interim government. The Cabinet Division had earlier issued the relevant notification. According to the gazette, under Article 56(3) of the Constitution, the President on Tuesday appointed Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister of the Government of Bangladesh. Another notification stated that the President, following the same constitutional provision, approved the decision to appoint the member of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad commanding the majority, Tarique Rahman, as Prime Minister and consented to the formation of a new government. Global leaders attend Bangladesh new govt’s oath-taking ceremony With the formation of the new government, the current interim advisory council is considered dissolved. Following the 13th parliamentary elections, the BNP secured more than a two-thirds majority and formed the government on Tuesday afternoon. The new cabinet comprises 50 members, including the prime minister, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers.

A few hours after being sworn in as Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman visited the graves of his parents on Tuesday night. Tarique, along with his family members, went to the grave premises of his father, Ziaur Rahman and mother, Khaleda Zia, in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area around 8:30 pm, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. He offered fateha there and performed munajat, praying for the salvation of the departed souls of his parents. Tarique Rahman: From London exile to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Earlier in the afternoon, Tarique was sworn in as Prime Minister at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Later, he exchanged greetings with the foreign dignitaries and guests who attended the oath-taking ceremony. He also held brief meetings in Parliament with some leaders who had come from different countries to attend the ceremony.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has been named the Leader of the Opposition in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. Newly elected MP from Cumilla-11 (Chouddagram) and Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher will serve as the deputy opposition leader. Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Nahid Islam has been appointed as the opposition chief whip, while Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan has been made opposition whip. Jamaat MPs-elect take oath as members of parliament, CRC The decisions were taken at a parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday after the oath-taking of MPs, party sources said. Assistant Secretary General and Chief of Central Publicity and Media Department of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, told UNB. A joint press release from the 11-party alliance is expected to be issued soon to formally announce the appointments. Earlier in the day, Jamaat MPs took oath around 12:30pm, followed by MPs from the National Citizen Party. Members of the 11-party alliance also took oath to the proposed Constitutional Reform Council alongside their parliamentary oath.

In an unusual episode in Bangladesh’s political history, President Mohammed Shahabuddin has become the first in the country to swear in three governments over just three years, marking a period of rapid political transition. The President administered the oath to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman as the new Prime Minister at a ceremony held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday afternoon. He also swore in ministers and state ministers of the new cabinet formed under Tarique Rahman’s leadership. On January 11, 2024, President Shahabuddin had administered the oath to the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina following the national election that year. But the Awami League government fell on August 5, 2024 amid a mass uprising. Tarique Rahman sworn in as Prime Minister

Just two months after returning home from 17 years in exile in London, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday assumed office as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh following his party’s resounding victory in the national election. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad. Tarique’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman and Syeda Shameela Rahman, the wife of his late younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko, were present when he was sworn in as Prime Minister. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Advisers, the chiefs of the three services, foreign dignitaries and leaders of different political parties were present.      Earlier, the BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) unanimously elected party Chairman Tarique Rahman as the Leader of the House after they took over as the members of the 13th parliament. Tarique Rahman will now lead Bangladesh as the head of the government just as his parents did earlier. His father Ziaur Rahman was army chief and later president of the county who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978, while his mother Khaleda Zia served as Prime Minister for about 10 years across three terms and led the party for more than four decades. Although many expected BNP to win the 13th parliamentary election and Tarique become Prime Minister, the scenario seemed distant before August 5, 2024. During the army-backed caretaker government, he was arrested on corruption charges and jailed. After securing bail in 2008, he left the country for medical treatment and began life in exile in London. Tarique Rahman sworn in as Prime Minister

Nabil Mustafizur Rahman is set to be appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of the state-owned Sammilito Islami Bank PLC. Rahman currently serves as the Additional Managing Director (AMD) of United Commercial Bank (UCB). The Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance sent a letter to the Chairman of Sammilito Islami Bank’s Board of Directors last Sunday (February 15), expressing the government’s consent for the appointment. He will serve on a contractual basis for a term of three years from his date of joining. The letter requested the board to take necessary legal steps in accordance with the Bank Company Act, 1991. Mohammad Ayub Miah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sammilito Islami Bank, stated that the matter will be presented at the next board meeting. "Following board approval, we will seek a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Bangladesh Bank to formally complete the appointment. The entire process is expected to take approximately one week," Ayub Miah said. Nabil Mustafizur Rahman brings over 31 years of experience to the role. An alumnus of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at the University of Dhaka, his career highlights include: He served as Deputy Managing Director (DMD) at BRAC Bank and Country Chief Risk Officer at Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Bangladesh. He has previously worked with global institutions including ANZ Grindlays, HSBC, and Credit Agricole Indosuez.