Tarique Rahman takes oath as Bangladesh PM, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attends swearing-in ceremony

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday took oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, after being elected as the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) parliamentary party.

The oath-taking ceremony is taking place five days after the BNP secured a historic win in the general elections. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is representing India at the ceremony where new MPs are being inducted into the cabinet. Birla reached Dhaka earlier today, and was accompanied by foreign secretary Vikram Misri and other officials, PTI news agency reported.

The ceremony, reportedly is taking place at the South Plaza of the Parliament Complex, instead of Bangabhaban for the first time.

The BNP bagged 209 out of 297 seats in the Bangladesh Parliament, while the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami, once their ally and now their primary rival, won 68 seats in the February 12 elections. Deposed PM Sheikh Hasina's Awami League was banned from contesting the polls.

Apart from Rahman, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers also took oath. The BNP cabinet has 50 members, with 25 ministers 24 state ministers, and three technocrats, Prothom Alo reported. Among the 25 ministers, 17 are new faces, with all state ministers also holding the position for the first time. PM Rahman is also a cabinet member for the first time.