Hindu, Buddhist ministers appointed as Tarique Rahman takes oath as Bangladesh PM: Why the appointments matter

File photos of newly sworn-in Bangladesh minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury (L) and Dipen Dewan (R).

Bangladesh’s new PM Tarique Rahman has appointed Hindu and Buddhist ministers, signaling inclusion amid concerns over minority rights. The move is seen as reassurance for minorities and positively received by India after years of strained relations.

Did our AI summary help?

Bangladesh’s new government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sent an early signal of inclusion by inducting representatives from minority communities, appointing one Hindu and one Buddhist as ministers. The development carries particular significance amid years of concern over attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and allegations of shrinking space for minorities during political turmoil.

Rahman was sworn into office on Tuesday by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, leading the first elected government since the deadly 2024 uprising. “I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of prime minister of the government in accordance with the law,” he said during the ceremony broadcast on state television.

Hindu and Buddhist faces in the new cabinet

According to Prothom Alo, the list of ministers taking oath includes Nitai Roy Chowdhury, representing the Hindu community, and Dipen Dewan, a Chakma Buddhist leader. While Dewan has been allocated Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Chowdhury has been given Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Their inclusion has been noted as a symbolic and political statement at a time when minority rights have been under scrutiny.

The cabinet also includes senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and two technocrat ministers. Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid and Khalilur Rahman will take oath as technocrat ministers, the newspaper reported.

Why the appointments matter

The presence of a Hindu and a Buddhist minister assumes importance against the backdrop of repeated reports of violence, vandalism and intimidation faced by Hindus in parts of Bangladesh in recent years. Minority groups have often alleged that political instability and weak law and order emboldened attackers. By giving minorities a place at the decision-making table, Rahman’s government appears keen to project reassurance at home and abroad.

For India, which has consistently raised concerns over the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, the move is being viewed positively. New Delhi praised the BNP’s “decisive win” after the February 12 elections, signalling a possible reset in ties after years of strain. The inclusion of minority ministers strengthens the narrative of democratic correction and institutional balance that India has publicly welcomed.

A new chapter after turmoil

Rahman, 60, returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in exile and led the BNP to a landslide victory. “This victory belongs to Bangladesh, belongs to democracy,” he said in his victory speech. He also acknowledged the scale of the task ahead. “We are about to begin our journey in a situation marked by a fragile economy left behind by the authoritarian regime, weakened constitutional and statutory institutions, and a deteriorating law and order situation,” he added.