Tarique Rahman's Oath and Political Comeback

Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, took oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on February 17, 2026, marking the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)'s return to power after their victory in the February 12, 2026, elections to the Jatiya Sangsad. Having returned from exile in December 2025, Rahman's leadership represents a significant shift following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in 2024 amid student-led protests. The oath ceremony included 25 Cabinet ministers, with portfolios not yet allocated, reflecting BNP's focus on forming an inclusive government in a politically volatile post-Awami League era.

Cabinet Composition and Minority Inclusion

The BNP Cabinet under Rahman comprises 25 ministers alongside the Prime Minister, with deliberate representation from minority communities to address ongoing concerns about communal harmony and minority safety. Nitai Roy Chowdhury is the sole Hindu minister, while a Buddhist Chakma leader from the hill tracts is also included. This composition is seen as a strategic move to reassure religious minorities, particularly Hindus, whose population has declined from 28% in 1947 to 7.95% in 2022 amid reports of persecution and violence during previous regimes.

Nitai Roy Chowdhury's Profile and Career

Nitai Roy Chowdhury, born in 1949 in Magura District, completed his early education at Magura Government College and pursued law at the University of Dhaka. His political career began in student politics, leading to his election to Parliament from Magura-2 in 1988. He briefly served as Minister of Youth and Sports for three months in 1990 under Hussain Muhammad Ershad's government. After Ershad's fall, he joined BNP and rose to become Vice Chairman of the Central Committee, a senior role involving strategy and advising party leadership. In the February 12, 2026, election, he won Magura-2 on a BNP ticket, defeating a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate by a large margin. He remains a practicing lawyer.

Family and Political Statements

Roy Chowdhury's family is deeply embedded in politics. He was married to Jhuma, and they have three children: daughter Nipun Roy Chowdhury, an active BNP politician and executive committee member who has held district-level leadership roles and is married to Amitav Roy (son of senior BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy); son Debasish Roy Chowdhury, a High Court judge in Bangladesh; and son Mithun. His brother Gyan Roy also won a seat in the February 12 election on a BNP ticket.

Roy Chowdhury has been a vocal critic of the Awami League. In a 2023 interview, he accused them of orchestrating communal violence: "By doing a case study, you will see that Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League is involved in all the communal violence that has happened in the country. Awami League is the biggest enemy of Hindus." He criticized China's economic influence: "China is lending to Bangladesh to expand its market. Hasina government accepts it and says it is developing. But the basis of this development is foreign debt." On India-Bangladesh relations, he stated: "Bangladesh is at the belly of India. That is why India wants the well-being of Bangladesh in its interest. BNP understands this," adding that BNP realizes "the relationship should go deeper." He acknowledged "isolated attacks" on Hindus during BNP-Jamaat's 2001 rule.

Implications for Minorities and Politics

Roy Chowdhury's inclusion as the only Hindu minister could signal a shift in BNP's approach to minorities, especially given historical tensions and recent violence. The Hindu population decline from 28% in 1947 to 7.95% in 2022 has fueled concerns about safety and representation. BNP's alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami in the past has raised questions, but the current Cabinet composition aims to rebuild trust and project inclusivity in a post-Awami League Bangladesh.

Vibe View:

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