Dhaka, 17 Feb

BNP leader Tarique Rahman was sworn in on Tuesday as Bangladesh’s new prime minister, ending 18 months of political uncertainty under the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Rahman, son of late president Ziaur Rahman and former premier Khaleda Zia, returned from 17 years of self-exile in London last December.

The ceremony was marred by fresh confrontation over ‘July Charter’. All elected MPs were to take two oaths as Bangladesh voted on 12 February to elect their MPs and also in a referendum on the ‘July Charter’.

BNP swept the polls with two-thirds majority amid rigging allegations, while the July Charter referendum received 62 per cent 'yes' votes.

The July Charter will turn the Parliament into a Constituent Assembly for 180 days, letting the House amend the Constitution and democratic processes.

While the BNP signed the July Charter, it said that it was not consulted. As a result, BNP MPs refused to take oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council on Tuesday.

Right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami MPs threatened to protest on the streets if BNP MPs refuse. Jamaat’s student ally, National Citizen Party, which led the protests to oust the Sheikh Hasina government, also abstained.

LokSabha Speaker Om Birla attended the event.