Tarique Rahman

Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has recently been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. This follows a landslide electoral victory for the BNP in the February 2026 elections, marking a significant shift in Bangladeshi politics after a period of turmoil. The elections were triggered by a 2024 student-led uprising that led to the ouster of former leader Sheikh Hasina and a subsequent 18-month period of caretaker rule. Rahman's cabinet includes figures who rose to prominence during the 2024 protests. His government faces immediate challenges, including a suspected measles outbreak affecting children and a financial crisis due to rising oil prices exacerbated by the Middle East conflict, prompting Bangladesh to seek emergency loans from international institutions. Rahman has also accused Sheikh Hasina's party of undermining the previous parliament. A recent referendum has exposed divisions within the BNP and Jamaat.