Ayesha Mir

Muhammad Ibrahim

DHAKA: Bangladesh swore in its new prime minister on Tuesday amid heavy security and widespread celebrations, following a landslide election that marked the country&rsquo;s first national vote since the mass 2024 uprising that ended years of &quot;authoritarian rule.&quot; The capital, Dhaka, was placed under tight security throughout the day, with major roads repeatedly opened and closed to accommodate high-profile movements. Traffic across large parts of the city was severely disrupted, leaving commuters stranded for hours. Following the oath-taking ceremony, supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) poured onto the streets, chanting slogans and holding celebratory rallies. Crowds also gathered outside the parliament complex, lining the road beyond the main gate to witness the historic transition. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, whose five-year term begins immediately, was sworn in by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. Rahman, 60, is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman. He is Bangladesh&rsquo;s first male prime minister in 35 years. Since the restoration of democracy in 1991, the office had alternated exclusively between his mother and her longtime rival Sheikh Hasina. Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December last year after 17 years in self-imposed exile in London, shortly before his mother&rsquo;s death. He has pledged to restore democratic institutions in the South Asian nation of around 170 million people. The BNP and its allies secured 212 seats in the 350-member parliament, giving the party a decisive majority. An opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami won 77 seats, while smaller parties and independents filled the remainder. Of the 300 directly elected seats, voting was held in 299 constituencies. Seven women were elected directly in the 13th national election, six of them on the BNP ticket. An additional 50 seats are reserved for women and allocated proportionally among winning parties. Security, crowds and public mood Earlier in the day, the head of the Election Commission administered the oath of office separately to all newly elected lawmakers. The presence of multiple foreign delegations prompted extensive security arrangements, with checkpoints and police deployments across central Dhaka. Despite disruptions, the atmosphere around parliament was celebratory. BNP supporters waved party flags and described the day as the culmination of years of political struggle and disenfranchisement. Pakistan signals engagement Foreign dignitaries attending the ceremony included Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, an Indian delegation, and representatives from Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries. Pakistan was represented by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who said he was attending on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. &ldquo;I am here to represent the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan at a very historic moment when Bangladesh is making a democratic transition and a new government is being sworn in,&rdquo; Iqbal told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would very much like to visit Bangladesh as early as possible,&rdquo; he added. Iqbal said Islamabad viewed the change in Dhaka as an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment and people-to-people engagement. &ldquo;There is tremendous opportunity to promote trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said, noting that bilateral trade remains below $1 billion. &ldquo;We look forward to a new journey between Pakistan and Bangladesh, towards prosperity and stability, not only for our region but for our people.&rdquo; Cabinet takes shape A total of 25 full ministers and two state ministers were sworn in as part of Rahman&rsquo;s new cabinet, covering portfolios ranging from finance and home affairs to foreign policy, energy, climate change and social welfare. Key appointments include Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury to finance and planning, Salahuddin Ahmed to home affairs, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to local government, and Khalilur Rahman, a technocrat, as foreign minister. The election was overseen by an interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, which took charge after Sheikh Hasina was toppled during the 2024 uprising. Hasina&rsquo;s Awami League party was barred from contesting the vote, and all its political activities were suspended during the transition. From exile in India, Hasina rejected the election as unfair. At home, she has been sentenced to death on charges of crimes against humanity related to hundreds of deaths during the unrest. The vote was largely peaceful and was deemed acceptable by international observers, restoring electoral legitimacy after years of disputed polls and political turmoil. With a strong parliamentary mandate, a newly sworn-in cabinet and public celebrations spilling into the streets, Bangladesh&rsquo;s new government begins its term under intense domestic expectations and renewed regional scrutiny.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman (R) takes oath as prime minister during a swearing-in ceremony at the National Parliament building in Dhaka on February 17, 2026. (AFP)

Bangladesh

Tarique Rahman becomes 11th prime minister as Bangladesh swears in new government after landslide election, signaling democratic transition, regional engagement and renewed ties with neighbors, including Pakistan.

Bangladesh swears in new prime minister after landslide election

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&#39;s Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman and other newly elected lawmakers from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-cabinet-members-to-take-oath-at-parliament-on-feb-17" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">took oaths</a>&nbsp;Tuesday in the National Parliament, the country&rsquo;s state broadcaster reported. According to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin administered the oaths at 10:43 am local time in the parliament&#39;s Oath Room. Parliament Secretary Kaniz Moula led the ceremony. The MPs then signed the official oath register. The BNP secured 209 seats alone in the Feb. 12 election for the 300-seat unicameral legislature. Its allies&mdash;the National Rights Council, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, and Gano Sanghati Andolon&mdash;each took one seat. Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-jamaateislamiled-coalition-submits-poll-complaints" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami</a> won 68 seats and forms the main opposition. Its partners claimed eight more: six for the National Citizen Party, two for Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, and one for Khelafat Majlish. Islami Andolon Bangladesh grabbed one seat. Independents took seven seats. The Bangladesh Election Commission published results for 297 seats on Friday. It delayed two Chittagong-area constituencies &ndash; a major port city &ndash; and one in Sherpur due to a candidate&#39;s death. Later in the day, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman was also elected parliamentary party leader unopposed. BNP media official Shairul Kabir Khan announced the result from a party meeting in the parliament building.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party members take oath at Jatiya Sangsad (the unicameral legislative body of Bangladesh) on February 17, 2026. (Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmakers took oaths in Bangladesh parliament Tuesday after their party's big election win. Jamaat-e-Islami forms opposition.

Bangladesh PM-elect Tarique Rahman, lawmakers sworn into parliament

DHAKA: Bangladesh&rsquo;s incoming leadership has placed the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the center of its regional strategy, framing South Asian integration as both an economic necessity and a political priority following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)&rsquo;s sweeping election victory.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the party sees its sweeping mandate not as a victory, but as a responsibility entrusted by voters after years of disenfranchisement.&nbsp;&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t see this as a victory. We see this as a trust that the people have put on us,&rdquo; Chowdhury said, adding that restoring democratic order and economic stability would be the government&rsquo;s immediate focus.&nbsp;Chowdhury said the BNP believes Bangladesh historically turns to the party during periods of national difficulty, and argued that voters backed the BNP this time to deliver democratic transition, economic recovery and institutional reform.&nbsp;On foreign policy, he stressed that the BNP would pursue a non-aligned, multilateral approach rooted in national interest, rejecting any country-centric alignment.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our foreign policy is never country-centric. It is based on mutual respect, mutual interest, non-interference and strategic autonomy for Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Within that framework, Chowdhury identified Pakistan as an important regional partner, particularly in the broader push to revive South Asian cooperation.&nbsp;&ldquo;South Asian integration is very important. We are the least integrated region in the world, with only five to six percent intra-regional trade,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We need to integrate for the benefit of all countries in the region.&rdquo;&nbsp;He acknowledged that tensions between India and Pakistan have stalled SAARC in the past but insisted Dhaka would work to overcome political roadblocks. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/e267e889-0d1e-4fa6-9a78-25069b43d3a5-WhatsApp Image 2026-02-15 at 11.26.47 PM.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2026-02-15 at 11.26.47 PM.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister, speaks during an interview with Pakistan TV Digital in Dhaka on February 15, 2026, ahead of Bangladesh&#39;s incoming government swearing-in ceremony. (Pakistan TV Digital)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;&ldquo;It has been a problem, we have to admit it. But we have to work around it. Integration is a must for the future of South Asia,&rdquo; he said, citing trade, textiles, pharmaceuticals, connectivity and supply chains as shared regional priorities.&nbsp;Chowdhury also downplayed allegations of foreign propaganda and misinformation during the election period, saying external narratives had little bearing on the outcome.&nbsp;&ldquo;The people of Bangladesh are the ultimate judges. As long as there is no interference in our domestic affairs, what others say is their own business,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;On bilateral ties, Chowdhury confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had called BNP leader Tarique Rahman to congratulate him, underscoring what he described as improving regional engagement. He said neighbourhood diplomacy would remain central to the BNP&rsquo;s outlook.&nbsp;Domestically, Chowdhury outlined plans for wide-ranging economic reform, including deregulation, liberalization and restoring damaged institutions to attract investment and create jobs.&nbsp;&ldquo;Investment is the only thing that can drive the economy and create jobs,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Government&rsquo;s role is to facilitate, not to control.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that small and medium enterprises, youth employment, women and underprivileged groups would be covered under what he described as a holistic reform agenda, aligned with constitutional commitments to social welfare.&nbsp;On constitutional reform, Chowdhury said the outcome of the recent national referendum would now be debated in parliament.&nbsp;&ldquo;Now that we have an elected parliament, it will be placed there for discussion and decision,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;As Bangladesh prepares for a new government, the BNP is positioning regional integration, economic openness and institutional rebuilding as the pillars of what it calls a post-authoritarian reset, with SAARC&rsquo;s revival framed as both a strategic goal and a test of South Asia&rsquo;s political will.

In a wide-ranging interview to Pakistan TV Digital ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury says voters’ mandate prioritizes democratic restoration, economic revival and South Asian integration.

Bangladesh’s incoming government signals regional reset, pushes SAARC revival

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called Tarique Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on Friday to congratulate him on the party&rsquo;s historic and significant victory in the general elections, on behalf of Pakistan&rsquo;s government and people.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Prime Minister extended an invitation to Mr. Tarique Rahman to undertake a visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience. The invitation was reciprocated by Mr. Rahman. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days to work for the betterment of the two peoples,&rdquo; according to the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (PMO).&nbsp;PM Sharif recalled the historic brotherly relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh and reaffirmed his resolve to work with Bangladesh&rsquo;s leadership to enhance mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation and promote regional peace, progress, and respect for each other&rsquo;s sovereign equality.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Prime Minister also congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the general elections, that reflected the democratic ideals and values espoused by the Bangladeshi nation,&rdquo; the statement added. During the conversation, both leaders fondly recalled Begum Khaleda Zia and paid tribute to her remarkable contributions to Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, bringing the people of both countries closer.&nbsp;

Foreign Affairs

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on his party’s election win, invited him to visit Pakistan, and reaffirmed efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and regional cooperation.

PM Sharif congratulates BNP chief, seeks stronger Pakistan-Bangladesh relations

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a majority of more than two-thirds of the seats in parliamentary polls, the Election Commission said on Friday. Election Commission figures said the BNP alliance had won 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, Commission senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters, according to AFP.&nbsp; Turnout was 59%. A referendum on a sweeping democratic charter was endorsed by 60%of voters. The BNP has emerged with a decisive parliamentary majority as counting continues from Dhaka&rsquo;s landmark general election, the first since a deadly 2024 uprising ended years of one-party dominance. According to the latest unofficial results, the BNP has won&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-votes-amid-tight-security-as-polling-begins-in-landmark-election" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(41, 105, 176);" rel="noopener noreferrer">198 seats</a>,&nbsp;while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 62 seats. The youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) won two seats, with results in several constituencies still pending or withheld on legal grounds. Polling concluded on Thursday evening, with hand counting beginning immediately under heavy security. The vote is widely seen as Bangladesh&rsquo;s most competitive election in nearly two decades, following the student-led uprising that forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024. The BNP, returning to power after nearly 20 years, urged restraint despite its strong showing. In a statement, the party said no victory rallies would be held, calling instead for nationwide prayers.&ldquo;Despite winning by a large margin, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised,&rdquo; the statement said, citing the party&rsquo;s responsibility to preserve stability. A clear outcome had been viewed as critical for the Muslim-majority nation of roughly 170 million people, after months of unrest disrupted daily life and key industries, including garments, Bangladesh&rsquo;s largest export sector. BNP leader Tarique Rahman, who returned from years in exile late last year, is widely expected to lead the next government. The transition was overseen by interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who assumed office after Hasina fled the country. At the BNP headquarters in Dhaka, supporters gathered overnight as the scale of the party&rsquo;s victory became apparent. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman struck a conciliatory tone, saying his party would accept the outcome if the prevailing trend held. &ldquo;We will do positive politics,&rdquo; he told reporters, adding that national interest would remain the party&rsquo;s priority. The Election Commission said results in three constituencies, Sherpur-2, Chittagong-2 and Chittagong-4, have been temporarily withheld due to pending legal cases involving winning candidates. &ldquo;The commission is legally obligated to withhold publication of results until final disposal of the relevant cases,&rdquo; said EC official Md Shahidul Islam. Turnout appeared higher than in the previous election, with officials earlier reporting participation approaching the mid-40% range by late afternoon. Voting was held in 299 constituencies, with one seat postponed following a candidate&rsquo;s death. 59% voter turnout&nbsp; Voter turnout in the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on February 12 reached 59.44%, according to the Election Commission of Bangladesh (EC). The information was released on Friday at 11:30 a.m. through a brief statement by Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of the EC&rsquo;s Public Relations Division. Several parties raised concerns after preliminary results were announced. The NCP demanded recounts in multiple constituencies, alleging discrepancies between centre-level counts, media tallies and official announcements. &ldquo;We are getting clear evidence of result tampering aimed at top candidates,&rdquo; NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said at a late-night press conference. Despite these challenges, senior BNP figures framed the outcome as a mandate accompanied by responsibility. BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party would avoid triumphalism. &ldquo;We have many responsibilities ahead,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We do not want to create any tension through celebratory rallies.&rdquo; Alongside the parliamentary vote, a nationwide referendum on constitutional reforms was held, proposing term limits for prime ministers, stronger judicial independence and changes to parliamentary structure. Official results of the referendum have yet to be announced. International reactionsRegional and international leaders moved quickly to respond to the outcome of Bangladesh&rsquo;s landmark election, praising the peaceful conduct of the vote and the clear result. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated BNP leader Rahman on the party&rsquo;s landslide victory and extended greetings to the people of Bangladesh for what he described as a successful and orderly election. In a statement, Zardari said Pakistan &ldquo;felicitates Tarique Rahman on the decisive mandate&rdquo; and congratulated Bangladesh&rsquo;s citizens for participating in peaceful polls, reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s support for democratic governance and closer bilateral cooperation.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022139603470495866&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e79a25569e508f448e776fe8581c4fedba454a27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 322px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He said Pakistan looked forward to strengthening ties &ldquo;based on shared democratic values and mutual progress.&rdquo; Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X on Friday, stated: &quot;I extend my warmest felicitations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading the BNP to a resounding victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. I also congratulate the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the elections.&quot; &quot;I look forward to working closely with the new Bangladesh leadership to further strengthen our historic, brotherly multifaceted bilateral relations and advance our shared goals of peace, stability, and development in South Asia and beyond.&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022158528757350813&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e79a25569e508f448e776fe8581c4fedba454a27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The United States also welcomed the result, offering congratulations to both voters and the winning party. &ldquo;Congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on a successful election, and to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman on your historic victory,&rdquo; the US embassy in Dhaka said in a statement. It added that Washington &ldquo;looks forward to working with the new leadership to advance shared goals of prosperity, security and regional stability.&rdquo; As counting continues and final results are certified, analysts say the coming days will test whether Bangladesh&rsquo;s post-uprising transition delivers political stability and restores public trust in democratic institutions.

According to Election Commission figures, the BNP alliance wins 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Jamaat-e-Islami–led alliance; voter turnout stands at 59%, and a referendum on a sweeping democratic charter is endorsed by 60% of voters.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party wins election: Official results

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman said differences of opinion should not escalate into conflict, stressing that dialogue and democratic practice are the only sustainable paths forward for the nation, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported on Saturday.&nbsp;Speaking at an exchange of views with editors and journalists from national-level media outlets in Dhaka, the son of former Bangladeshi prime minister late Khaleda Zia said, &ldquo;Even if there are differences of opinion, they must be reduced through discussion. Differences should not escalate to the level of conflict.&rdquo;&nbsp;Referring to recent history, Rahman said, &ldquo;The nation has seen the consequences of vengeance or retaliation on August 5, 2024,&rdquo; adding that violence, revenge, and division have brought despair but also lessons for the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;We saw on August 5 what the consequences of violence, revenge, and vengeance can be &mdash; whether for an individual, a party, or the nation,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Emphasizing unity, Rahman urged people of all political affiliations to resolve disagreements through discussion rather than confrontation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;If we try, perhaps we can resolve many problems by keeping those differences as differences and solving them through discussions,&rdquo; he said. &#39;Must maintain the democratic process&#39;Highlighting the importance of democracy, the BNP chairman said, &ldquo;At any cost, we must maintain the democratic process,&rdquo; noting that elections must be held at all levels.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;If the democratic process continues uninterrupted, solving the country&rsquo;s problems is possible,&rdquo; he added, expressing hope that the process would begin on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-prepares-for-february-12-elections-with-postal-voting-security-measures" style="color:#0073e6;">February 12</a>.&nbsp;Rahman said reforms must address constitutional and legal issues as well as people&rsquo;s daily lives.&nbsp;&ldquo;There have been some fundamental issues like people&rsquo;s daily lives, security, healthcare, employment, and children&rsquo;s education,&rdquo; he said, pledging that politics should not remain limited to seminars and symposiums. Women empowermentOutlining BNP&rsquo;s future plans, Rahman discussed initiatives including women&rsquo;s economic empowerment, a universal Family Card, a Krishak Card for farmers, grassroots healthcare workers, expatriate skill development, youth employment, and IT sector expansion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Half of the country&rsquo;s populations are women; development is impossible, leaving them behind,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The BNP chairman said, &quot;If we can form a government with the people&#39;s mandate in the upcoming elections, initiatives will be taken to make women economically self-reliant.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Speaking at an exchange of views with editors and journalists from national-level media outlets in Dhaka, the son of former Bangladeshi prime minister late Khaleda Zia said, 'Even if there are differences of opinion, they must be reduced through discussion. Differences should not escalate to the level of conflict.'

Articles tagged with "BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman"

Bangladesh swears in new prime minister after landslide election

Bangladesh PM-elect Tarique Rahman, lawmakers sworn into parliament

Bangladesh’s incoming government signals regional reset, pushes SAARC revival

PM Sharif congratulates BNP chief, seeks stronger Pakistan-Bangladesh relations

Bangladesh Nationalist Party wins election: Official results

Differences must not escalate into conflict, says Bangladesh's Tarique Rahman