Who became Bangladesh's prime minister after leading the BNP to victory in the February 2026 election?

Tarique Rahman assumed the role of Bangladesh's prime minister on February 17, 2026, following a decisive victory by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the general election held on February 12, 2026. This election marked a significant turning point in Bangladeshi politics, as it was the first competitive vote in years and saw the BNP return to power after nearly two decades.

Rahman, the eldest son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, comes from a prominent political family. His return to Bangladesh in late 2025, after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London, paved the way for him to lead the BNP to this electoral success. His mother, Khaleda Zia, passed away in December 2025, and his father founded the BNP. This election also marked the end of the "two Begums" era, a long-standing rivalry between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, ushering in a new generation of leadership.

The February 2026 election followed a turbulent period in Bangladesh, including a student-led uprising in 2024 that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government and an 18-month interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The Awami League, Hasina's party, was barred from participating in the 2026 election. Tarique Rahman's government now faces the challenges of economic recovery, tackling inflation, creating jobs, and ensuring law and order, alongside implementing institutional reforms.