PM visits parents’ graves, Savar Memorial: 1st cabinet meet today

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman took oath as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday. Photo- Md. Rakibul Hasan-UNB

Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will begin his first full day in office on Wednesday by paying homage to the country’s martyrs at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar.

The Prime Minister offered jiarat at the graves of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and mother former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Tuesday night.

He offered the jiarat at Zia Udyan in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area after assuming office as the country's 11th Prime Minister.

During the jiarat, the Prime Minister offered prayers (dua) seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of his parents while his family members were present.

Earlier, Tarique Rahman took the oath of office at the South Plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon with the presence of a number of foreign dignitaries and diplomats. 

This (Wednesday afternoon, he will chair the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed government at the Secretariat. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior administrative officials (secretaries) on the same day, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

Tarique Rahman took oath as Prime Minister on Tuesday at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, administered by President Md. Sahabuddin. Following his swearing-in, ministers and state ministers of the new government took their oaths, marking the start of the BNP-led administration after nearly two decades.

Invitations to the ceremony were extended to world leaders from 13 countries including China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan. India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended as the official representative of New Delhi.

Other notable attendees at the National Parliament South Plaza included outgoing Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and members of the advisory council, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, Chief Election Commissioner, Supreme Court judges, MPs, political leaders, the heads of the three armed forces, diplomats, senior journalists, and top civilian and military officials.

In the national elections held last Thursday, the BNP won 209 seats while its allies secured three. For the first time in Bangladesh’s history, the swearing-in ceremony was held at the National Parliament Complex South Plaza instead of the President’s House (Banga Bhaban). - UNB