On the Radar: Bangladesh’s new prime minister steps into power

Last week we looked at Bangladesh’s election as a stress test for the country’s democratic reset and what to watch as voters headed to the polls. This week, the result is in. Bangladesh has a new prime minister - Tarique Rahman.

Tarique Rahman has been sworn in after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a decisive victory in the country’s first election since the 2024 student led uprising (which was termed as GenZ revolution or the Monsoon Revolution) that removed Sheikh Hasina from power.

This Tuesday marked a symbolic handover. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who had come back from self-imposed exile to steer Bangladesh through its transition, passed the baton to a new prime minister who had only recently returned from years in exile himself.

It is interesting to note that the landmark Bangladesh election was ⁠triggered by a Gen Z-led uprising in 2024, yet a youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) – born out of the uprising – managed to secure only six out of 297 constituencies.

The results, officially declared on Saturday, showed that voters overwhelmingly chose Rahman’s BNP, which comfortably defeated a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, of which the NCP is a key partner.

For Bangladesh, this is more than a change of government. It is the beginning of a new political chapter after years of unrest, exile and upheaval.

Who is Tarique Rahman and his journey from exile to the premiership

Rahman’s journey to power has been unusually dramatic.

While Rahman's mother Khaleda Zia, was Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, his father was Ziaur Rahman, the first military leader of Bangladesh, who founded the BNP in 1978. It is no wonder that he is described by some political pundits as the “figurehead of the influential Zia family”, with both his parents having previously led the country.

He returned to Bangladesh in late 2025 after nearly 17 years in self-imposed exile in London. He had left the country in 2008 after being arrested during a military-backed anti-corruption crackdown and later faced a series of corruption and violence-related cases, which he and his party long argued were politically motivated.

During his years abroad, he continued to shape BNP strategy from a distance and remained a central figure in opposition politics.

His exile was closely tied to some of the most contentious moments in Bangladesh’s political history. He had been convicted in absentia in several cases, including for alleged involvement in the 2004 grenade attack on a political rally. Those convictions were later overturned or dropped after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.

The political landscape shifted dramatically after the 2024 student-led uprising that removed Hasina from power, creating the conditions for Rahman’s return.

Within days of coming home, his mother and former prime minister Khaleda Zia died, and he formally became leader of the BNP soon afterwards.

Now aged 60, Rahman leads one of the two political dynasties that have shaped Bangladesh for decades.

His path has not been smooth. Supporters see him as a political survivor who was pushed into exile. Critics see him as a symbol of the country’s long-standing dynastic politics. Either way, his rise from years abroad to the premiership in just a few months marks one of the most dramatic political comebacks in recent South Asian politics.

One political analyst captured the moment neatly, saying Rahman has “seen the dark corners of politics” and now faces the test of turning that experience into national leadership.

A strong mandate, and high expectations

Rahman, in his oath of office, promised to “faithfully discharge the duties of the office of prime minister… in accordance with the law.”

“Our position is clear. Peace and order must be maintained at any cost. No wrongdoing or unlawful activity will be tolerated,” he said at a news conference on Saturday. “Regardless of party, religion, race, or differing opinions, under no circumstances will attacks by the strong against the weak be accepted. Justice will be our guiding principle.”

The public mood around the swearing in reflected both hope and urgency. Crowds gathered outside the parliament grounds, and expectations for change are high.

As one reporter observed, “People really want changes. They want to see new faces in parliament.”

That sense of urgency is particularly strong among younger voters, many of whom drove the protests that reshaped the country’s politics. Observers say, “lots of fundamental and primary change is expected by the population, particularly the younger population who were behind the July uprising.”

Turning protest into governance

Rahman takes office after an 18-month interim government that managed the country’s transition following the uprising.

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has announced he is resigning to pave way for a new government. Interestingly, Yunus - an 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner - had also  returned from self-imposed exile in August 2024 to serve as Bangladesh’s chief adviser after the Monsoon Revolution.  

His government now faces the difficult task of turning protest energy into functioning institutions.

A central test will be implementing the July National Charter; a sweeping reform package approved in a referendum alongside the election.

The reforms include term limits, a two-chamber parliament and tighter limits on the governing party’s ability to change the constitution.

These changes aim to reshape how power works in Bangladesh. Delivering them will require political compromise and stability, both of which have been in short supply in recent years.

Why New Zealand should pay attention

Bangladesh is an increasingly important economic partner for New Zealand. In 2024, New Zealand exported about 310 million dollars’ worth of goods to Bangladesh, led by concentrated milk and scrap iron. Bangladesh exported 147 million dollars to New Zealand, largely clothing and textiles.

Political stability and economic direction in Bangladesh therefore matter for trade, supply chains and the wider Asia Pacific region.

What this means for South Asia

Bangladesh’s political transition will be closely watched across South Asia, particularly by India. The two countries share deep economic, security and migration ties, and political stability in Dhaka matters for the wider region. A new government in Bangladesh comes at a time when South Asia is navigating economic pressure and shifting geopolitical relationships. How Tarique Rahman chooses to engage with India and other neighbours will shape regional cooperation, trade and security in the years ahead.

 What comes next

Rahman’s rise has been rapid. He has moved from exile to party leadership to prime minister in a matter of months.

The election has delivered a clear result. The harder part begins now.

Bangladesh’s new government must rebuild trust in institutions, deliver long promised reforms and meet the expectations of a young and politically energised population.

The revolution changed the country’s direction. The challenge now is whether the new prime minister can turn that moment into lasting democratic change.

 -Asia Media Centre

Banner Image - A file photo from Tarique Rahman's photo stream on Flickr.