In a departure from the traditional ceremony held at the Bangabhaban, the swearing-in of the new government took place at the open South Plaza of the National Parliament complex. The event saw international representation, with invitations extended to leaders from 13 nations, including China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan. Notably, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended to represent New Delhi.
The ceremony was attended by a wide array of dignitaries, including outgoing interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and his council of advisers. Also present were Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, the Chief Election Commissioner, Supreme Court justices, members of parliament, political leaders, the chiefs of the three armed forces, members of the diplomatic corps, senior journalists, and high-ranking civil and military officials.
Tarique Rahman arrived at the venue at 3:58 PM accompanied by his wife, Zubaida Rahman, and daughter, Zaima Rahman, receiving a standing ovation from the attendees. He appeared confident and vibrant, dressed in a white shirt with a suit. President Mohammed Shahabuddin arrived at the venue shortly after at 4:04 PM, and the proceedings commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran.
Following the oath-taking, Tarique Rahman officially assumed the role of Prime Minister. This transition marks the first time in 36 years that Bangladesh has a male head of government. Since the restoration of the parliamentary system in 1991, Rahman becomes the fourth individual to serve as the executive head under this framework. While the list of prime ministers in the 55-year history of Bangladesh is extensive, the number of individuals serving as executive heads under a cabinet-led government remains limited to four.
In the historical context of the parliamentary system, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the first, followed by Khaleda Zia, who served three terms, and Sheikh Hasina, who served five terms. Including Tajuddin Ahmad, who led the Mujibnagar government prior to the 1972 constitution, Tarique Rahman is the 11th person to hold the office of Prime Minister. Furthermore, he is the third member of his family to serve as head of government, and his inauguration signals the return of the BNP to power after a 20-year hiatus.