Bangladesh’s Rahman Faces Rights Challenges as New Prime Minister

Dhaka – Tarique Rahman, recently elected as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government are facing calls from human rights organizations to prioritize the protection of human rights. Nine rights groups have published a letter to Prime Minister Rahman outlining urgent challenges and opportunities for reform.

Transition Following Protests

Rahman assumed office following a landslide election victory in February 2026. This election followed the replacement of the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina, which was toppled by mass protests in 2024. The interim government that preceded Rahman’s administration faced criticism for continuing to arbitrarily detain political opponents and failing to curb mob violence against journalists, religious minorities, and cultural centers, despite the end of widespread rights violations like enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings that characterized Hasina’s rule.

Calls for Accountability and Reform

Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director, Meenakshi Ganguly, stated that Rahman “has been given a wide mandate to bring change, including by many Bangladeshis who risked their lives to overthrow an autocratic government.” Success, Ganguly added, “will require meaningful reform to ensure that independent institutions are capable of delivering accountability and upholding the rule of law, and real commitment to upholding rights such as freedom of religion and expression.”

Key Priorities for the New Government

The rights groups’ letter highlights several key priorities for the new government, including:

• Ending arbitrary detention
• Holding those responsible for past human rights violations accountable
• Abolishing the Rapid Action Battalion, which has been accused of abuses
• Protecting ethnic and religious minorities
• Protecting the rights of over a million Rohingya refugees currently in Bangladesh
• Establishing a strong and independent National Human Rights Commission

BNP’s Commitments and Economic Rights

During the election campaign, the BNP made commitments to safeguard rights, including economic rights, by increasing resources for health, education, environmental protections, and social security. The BNP will similarly be focused on maintaining Bangladesh’s position as the world’s second-largest garment exporter after China.

Government Formation

The Tarique ministry was formed on February 17, 2026, following the swearing-in ceremony administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The cabinet consists of 59 members, including the Prime Minister, Advisers, Ministers, and Ministers of State, primarily from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, with support from other parties like Gono Odhikar Parishad and Ganosamhati Andolan.