Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh's new Prime Minister on Tuesday, following his party's decisive victory in the general elections. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to the leader at the Jatiya Sangsad's South Plaza, deviating from the traditional Bangabhaban venue.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 out of 297 seats, while the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. The BNP cabinet includes senior leaders such as Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Salahuddin Ahmed, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Nitai Roy Chowdhury, the lone Hindu leader in the cabinet.
ALSO READ: Fact Check: Viral Photos Of PM Modi And Rahul Gandhi With Jeffrey Epstein Are AI-Generated
Who is Nitai Roy Chowdhury?
Nitai Roy Chowdhury is a veteran politician and lawyer, serving as Vice-Chairman of the BNP. He was elected as Member of Parliament from Magura-2, defeating a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate.
A senior advisor and key strategist within the BNP, Chowdhury has previously held ministerial roles, including Minister of Youth and Sports (1990) under HM Ershad and state ministerial positions in Education and Law. Reports indicate he may head the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in the 2026 cabinet.
Chowdhury, alongside Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, is one of the two Hindu MPs elected on a BNP ticket, highlighting the party’s inclusive representation.
ALSO READ: Tarique Rahman Takes Oath As Bangladesh's New Prime Minister; What's Next For BNP Leader?
The Awami League was barred from contesting polls. The result was a major turnaround for the BNP, long targeted under the 15-year rule of the Awami League government, which collapsed following nationwide student-led protests in August 2024.