Several senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were left out of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new Cabinet, announced Tuesday as the party returned to power after 20 years. Senior leader Aman Ullah Aman and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi were also left out. Except for Nazrul Islam Khan and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the excluded leaders had previously served in key ministries during past BNP governments, making their absence a major surprise in the new Cabinet. In Bangladesh’s 300-seat parliament, a party needs at least 151 seats, or 50.33%, to form a government. With 209 seats, representing 69.66% of contested seats, the BNP will govern with a commanding majority.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 17, 2026 16:44 UTC