“The BNP government begins its tenure bearing a debt burden of 23 lakh crore taka.”

Tarique Rahman is set to lead Bangladesh’s newly elected government from Tuesday, marking the end of an 18-month interim administration formed in the wake of the student-led mass uprising. The formal swearing-in ceremony will take place at 4:00 pm at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex, where President Mohammad Shahabuddin will administer the oath to members of the new cabinet.

Earlier in the morning, newly elected Members of Parliament will be sworn in by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, symbolising what national dailies have described as a return to democratic continuity.

Cabinet Composition and Political Vision

Sources indicate that the new cabinet is expected to comprise between 35 and 40 members, with approximately 26 to 27 serving as full ministers. The leadership has signalled its intention to blend youth, experience and technocratic expertise, uniting three generations of political actors to confront the country’s mounting economic and governance challenges.

Meanwhile, debate continues over the formation of the upper house following the referendum that approved a bicameral parliamentary system. Political parties remain divided on whether seats in the upper chamber should be allocated proportionally according to total votes secured or based on representation in the lower house. Legal questions surrounding the so-called “July Charter” are also under discussion.

A Mounting Debt Burden

Despite the ceremonial optimism, the new administration inherits a formidable economic legacy: public debt exceeding Tk 23 lakh crore (over Tk 23.25 trillion). According to financial data published at the close of the 2024–25 fiscal year and updated through December of the current fiscal period, the debt trajectory is as follows:

The sharp rise in debt during the first six months of the current fiscal year underscores the fiscal pressures facing the incoming government, particularly in servicing both domestic banking obligations and foreign liabilities.

Administrative Reshuffle Anticipated

Significant bureaucratic changes are already under way. Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid and Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser M Siraz Uddin Mia stepped down days before the transition. Senior Home Ministry Secretary Nasimul Ghani has since been appointed Cabinet Secretary. Further reshuffles among divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and senior secretaries are widely anticipated.

Ramadan Supply Concerns

Adding urgency to the economic agenda, nearly 50 vessels carrying essential commodities for Ramadan remain stranded at Chattogram Port due to prolonged work stoppages and election-related closures. Importers warn that delays in unloading rice, lentils, sugar and edible oil could disrupt supply chains and drive up prices in the wholesale and retail markets during the holy month.

International Presence at Swearing-In

The inauguration has drawn high-level foreign delegations. Among those arriving in Dhaka are India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, alongside Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Senior representatives from Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are also expected.

In a farewell address, interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus urged citizens to safeguard democratic gains and continue striving for a humane and accountable state. He described the recent election as the beginning of a renewed democratic journey.

Transparency International Bangladesh reports that approximately 60 per cent of the new parliamentarians are businesspersons, including 13 billionaires and 236 multimillionaires, underscoring the continued dominance of commercial elites in the legislature.

As the BNP-led government assumes office, it does so amid heightened public expectation, heavy fiscal constraints and the promise of political renewal.