Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally assumed office on Wednesday, one day after being sworn in, by chairing the first cabinet meeting of his administration in Dhaka.

At the outset of the meeting, the Prime Minister exchanged pleasantries with his cabinet colleagues.

Members of the newly sworn-in cabinet attended the meeting. Cabinet secretary and secretaries concerned were present, among others.

Earlier, he arrived at the Cabinet Division at Bangladesh Secretariat around 12.30 pm, where he was received by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar.

The prime minister began the day by paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War and honoring the memory of his parents, including former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

Leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Tarique Rahman took the oath as Bangladesh’s 11th prime minister on Tuesday, five days after his party secured a sweeping victory in the 13th parliamentary election. BNP won 209 seats on its own out of 297 declared seats, giving it a decisive mandate following the February 12 polls.

The oath of office and secrecy was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The newly formed cabinet consists of 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers, marking the start of the new government’s work under the fresh electoral mandate.