Bangladesh’s incoming leader says he will work to build a more democratic country, overcoming challenges related to weak institutions.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s next prime minister, Tarique Rahman, on February 17. It is learnt that Bangladesh had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ceremony to be held in Dhaka.

Unidentified miscreants reportedly smashed a window of the office and threw “petrol or similar substance” inside before igniting the blaze. Police have identified two individuals as suspects, and an investigation is underway.

Bangladesh has entered a decisive new phase following the 12 February 2026 general election, which delivered an

Bangladesh’s prime minister-in-waiting Tarique Rahman has appealed for unity in the country and dedicated his sweeping win to those who “sacrificed for democracy”, as his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won with a thumping majority in the recently-concluded parliamentary elections.

The party is dedicated to running the country under Islamic law, but ran on a more moderate platform. It gained far more seats in last week’s election than it ever had before.

Tarique Rahman is poised to lead Bangladesh after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party scored an election victory.

Bangladesh's prime minister-in-waiting Tarique Rahman on Saturday dedicated his landslide election win to those who "sacrificed for democracy", calling for unity after the first polls since a deadly