Foreign Affairs

Bangladesh’s Political Earthquake: New Prime Minister Sworn In Amid Controversy and Islamist Rise

By Economics Desk | February 17, 2026

After a tumultuous uprising and a contentious election, Bangladesh’s new prime minister takes office, but growing Islamist influence and the sidelining of opposition raise serious concerns for democracy and regional stability.

Bangladesh has entered a new chapter in its turbulent political saga with the swearing-in of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following his party’s overwhelming victory in last week’s parliamentary elections. But beneath the surface of this apparent democratic milestone lies a complex web of power shifts and political maneuvers that warrant sober scrutiny from any America First perspective. Is Bangladesh’s Democracy Truly Advancing or Sliding Into Uncertainty? Prime Minister Rahman, returning from 17 years in exile, stands as the first male leader in over three decades—a symbolic break from the intense family rivalry that has long dominated Bangladeshi politics. Yet this...

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