Dhaka, 18 February 2026 – Newly elected members of the 13th National Parliament and members of Bangladesh’s new cabinet took oath yesterday in a historic ceremony held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex, marking a departure from the traditional venue at Bangabhaban’s Durbar Hall. The open-air ceremony was attended by invited guests, including foreign heads of state and government representatives, speakers, ministers, senior officials, and diplomats. The event drew notable participation from South Asian countries, reflecting regional attention toward Bangladesh’s new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu attended the ceremony in person and congratulated the new prime minister. Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay also traveled to Dhaka to join the event. India was represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, whose participation was viewed as a signal of New Delhi’s continued support for parliamentary cooperation and democratic engagement between the two countries. Pakistan was represented by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry, while Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma attended on behalf of Kathmandu and reaffirmed friendly bilateral relations. Following the oath ceremony, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with visiting foreign dignitaries at his office within the Parliament complex and held brief bilateral discussions. The event marked the formal beginning of the new government’s tenure, with expectations of renewed regional engagement and cooperation in the coming years.