On first working day, PM to pay tribute at National Memorial; first cabinet meeting in afternoon
The prime minister is also scheduled to meet senior administrative officials (secretaries) on the same day.
Newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will begin his first full day in office today (18 February) by paying homage to the country's martyrs at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar.
In the 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 last night (17 February).
Tarique Rahman took oath as prime minister yesterday 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.
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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 on 12 February, 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).
