Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will begin his official duties at the Secretariat on Wednesday, a day after taking oath as Bangladesh’s 11th prime minister.

According to Cabinet Division sources on Tuesday, the prime minister will exchange views with officials and employees of the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat on his first working day. He is also scheduled to hold a special meeting of the new Cabinet and a separate meeting with secretaries.

Officials and staff of the Cabinet Division have been busy since Tuesday noon, centring preparations around the prime minister’s first day in office.

Cleaning and renovation work is underway at the prime minister’s office on the third floor of the Secretariat building. The designated chamber for the new prime minister is being readied, with furniture, walls and floors being cleaned and polished. The Cabinet meeting room on the same floor is also being prepared. Since the construction of the building, the floor had largely remained unused.

Employees of the Public Works Department were seen bringing flower tubs in pickup vans and other vehicles until the evening to enhance the aesthetic appearance of different floors of the building, including the ground floor.

The 13th parliamentary elections were held on February 12. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a two-thirds majority in the polls. Of the 299 seats, results of 297 have been declared, with the BNP-led alliance winning 212 seats. The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizens Party alliance secured 77 seats, while independents and others won eight.

The BNP has formed the government for the fourth time after nearly two decades. Party Chairman Tarique Rahman has become prime minister for the first time. He and members of his Cabinet were sworn in on Tuesday afternoon at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Cabinet Division sources said the prime minister will begin his Wednesday schedule at 10am by placing a wreath at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar, paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War.

After the homage, he will head to the Secretariat around noon to assume office formally. Upon arrival, he will be introduced to officials of the Cabinet Division and attend a brief exchange meeting.

A special meeting of the new Cabinet is scheduled for 3pm. The meeting will have no specific agenda and is expected to be introductory in nature. At 4pm, the prime minister will hold a views-exchange meeting with secretaries of different ministries.