Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. Chaudhary arrived here to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s new cabinet led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
The first meeting of the newly formed cabinet will be held at 3pm on Wednesday. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will preside over the meeting to be held at the Bangladesh Secretariat. He said Tarique Rahman will pay tribute by placing a wreath at the National Memorial at 10am on Wednesday. Upon his return from there, around 12:30pm, he will hold office at the Prime Minister's Office in the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat. After the meeting, he will have lunch at the Secretariat and then hold the special cabinet meeting at 3pm.
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam, has been nominated as the opposiiton party chief whip of the 13th National Parliament. Role of the chief whip and whipsIn a parliamentary democracy, the chief whip and whips play a crucial role in maintaining party discipline in the legislature. Ensuring attendance: Making sure party MPs attend sessions, and recalling members to the chamber if quorum is at risk. Coordinating votes: Securing the presence of party MPs and ensuring voting aligns with party positions on important bills or motions. Status and benefitsBy law, the chief whip and Whips are granted special status and state facilities:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman offered jiarat at the graves of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and mother former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia tonight. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman offered jiarat at the graves of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and mother former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia tonight. He offered the jiarat at Zia Udyan in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area after assuming office as the country's 11th Prime Minister. During the jiarat, the Prime Minister also offered prayers (dua) seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of his parents while his family members were present. Earlier, Tarique Rahman took the oath of office at the South Plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon with the presence of a number of foreign dignitaries and diplomats.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has refused to attend the swearing-in of the new cabinet after BNP lawmakers declined to take the Constitution Reform Council oath. The announcement came on Tuesday via the party’s Facebook page after its six MPs were sworn in as parliamentarians and reform council members. After the BNP and its alliance partners opted out of the council pledge earlier in the day, Jamaat-e-Islami and its ally the NCP had initially indicated that they would refrain from taking any oath unless the BNP joined the reform council process. The new cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in at 4pm on Tuesday at the South Plaza of the parliament complex, with President Mohammed Shahabuddin set to administer the oath. However, around 1:30pm, the NCP announced that its members would skip the ceremony, citing BNP’s refusal to join the reform council.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) – World leaders today congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on becoming Bangladesh’s new premier and expressed hope for stability, prosperity and democratic progress under his leadership following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s victory in the 13th parliamentary elections. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his warm congratulations to Rahman and conveyed his desire to work closely with the new government to further deepen Dhaka-Delhi ties. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae also congratulated premier Tarique Rahman on assuming office and reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties under the existing “Strategic Partnership” between Japan and Bangladesh. In a message posted on X, Albanese said the two nations shared a “valuable partnership” and that Australia was keen to work closely with Dhaka to promote “a stable, prosperous region”.
Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - The first meeting of the newly formed cabinet will be held at 3:00pm tomorrow. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will preside over the meeting to be held at the Bangladesh Secretariat. He said Tarique Rahman will pay tribute by placing a wreath at the National Memorial at 10:00am on Wednesday. Upon his return from there, around 12:30pm, he will hold office at the Prime Minister's Office in the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat. After the meeting, he will have lunch at the Secretariat and then hold the special cabinet meeting at 3:00pm.
UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific) and Minister for Equalities Seema Malhotra met with newly elected Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his Sangsad Bhaban office today. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific) and Minister for Equalities Seema Malhotra has paid a courtesy call on newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Malhotra met Tarique Rahman at his Sangsad Bhaban office here after he took oath of office as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh at the South Plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon. Prime Minister's daughter Zaima Rahman, new minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and officials concerned were present during the meeting. Earlier, Malhotra arrived in Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s new cabinet led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Turkish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berris Ekinci today met with newly elected Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his Sangsad Bhaban office. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - Turkish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berris Ekinci has paid a courtesy call on newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Ekinci met Tarique Rahman at his Sangsad Bhaban office here after he took oath of office as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh at the South Plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban here this afternoon. Prime Minister's daughter Zaima Rahman, new minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and officials concerned were present during the meeting. Earlier, Ekinci arrived in Dhaka today to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s new cabinet led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay today met with newly elected Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his Sangsad Bhaban office. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay has paid a courtesy call on newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his Sangsad Bhaban office here after he took oath of office as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh at the South Plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon. Prime Minister's daughter Zaima Rahman, new minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and officials concerned were present during the meeting. Tobgay arrived in Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s new cabinet led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, reflecting the enduring friendship between the two countries.
