Tarique Rahman inducts two Hindu leaders amid concerns over communal violence
February 17, 2026: Following the sweeping victory in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections, Tarique Rahman has inducted two leaders from minority communities into his 25-member Cabinet. Among those sworn in was Nitai Roy Chowdhury, while Dipen Dewan became the second minority representative. There had been speculation that veteran Hindu leader Goyeshwar Chandra Roy would be included, but instead his relative Nitai Roy Chowdhury was chosen. Chowdhury, a senior strategist and Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, won from the Magura-2 constituency, defeating a Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate by over 30,000 votes.
Born in 1949, Nitai Roy Chowdhury is a lawyer and seasoned politician who earlier served as Youth and Sports Minister in the government led by Hussain Muhammad Ershad. His induction comes at a time when Bangladesh has been grappling with instability and rising concerns over the safety of minorities. Incidents of mob violence against Hindus during the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus had drawn international attention, particularly in the months following the announcement of elections.
The Cabinet’s minority representation is being closely watched in India, especially after tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka over reported attacks on the Hindu community. Rights groups such as Amnesty International have documented targeted violence against minority homes, places of worship and businesses. The move to include two Hindu leaders is being viewed as a potential signal toward restoring confidence and addressing communal concerns as the new government begins its term.