Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in Dhaka to attend Bangladesh’s swearing-in ceremony as BNP lawmakers return to parliament after 15 years
Dhaka: Mohamed Muizzu arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected government, marking a significant political moment as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returns to parliament after a 15-year gap.
Muizzu was received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Foreign Adviser M Touhid Hossain ahead of the oath-taking ceremony held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
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Oath Ceremony Under Tight Security
The swearing-in ceremony began at 10 am amid heightened security arrangements in and around the parliament complex. Newly elected Members of Parliament started arriving from 9 am, with officials verifying identity cards before entry.
As per parliamentary convention, BNP lawmakers were sworn in first after securing an absolute majority in the February 12 parliamentary elections. The oath was administered by Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
BNP’s Return After 15 Years
The ceremony marks the BNP’s formal return to parliament after boycotting the 2014 and 2024 elections and withdrawing midway from the 2018 polls, citing irregularities.
The party won 209 of the 297 declared seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats, emerging as the principal opposition.
Several BNP leaders described the occasion as historic and emotionally significant, noting that the party’s last parliamentary entry was under the leadership of Khaleda Zia. This time, the party re-enters parliament under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.
International Presence
India was represented at the ceremony by Om Birla. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the participation reflects the enduring ties between the two nations.
Chief Adviser of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, had invited leaders from 13 countries, including India, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan, to attend the ceremony.
The swearing-in marks the beginning of a new political chapter in Bangladesh following a decisive electoral mandate for the BNP.
(With ANI inputs)
Published: 17 Feb 2026, 10:46 am IST
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