BNP Leader Tarique Rahman Set to Return to Bangladesh After 17 Years as Election Build-Up Intensifies

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The political stage in Bangladesh is set for a major moment as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman is scheduled to return to the country on Thursday after nearly 17 years in exile. His homecoming is expected to draw massive crowds, with the BNP claiming that nearly 50 lakh supporters will gather to welcome him ahead of the crucial general elections scheduled for February next year.

Context: A Nation in Political Transition

Rahman’s return comes at a sensitive time for Bangladesh, which has been navigating a political vacuum since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and flee to India following widespread student-led protests last year. The country is currently governed by an interim administration headed by Mohammad Yunus as chief adviser.

The political atmosphere has been further charged by public outrage over the recent killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, an incident that has intensified calls for accountability and reform.

Why Tarique Rahman’s Return Matters

Sixty-year-old Tarique Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is currently the acting chairman of the BNP. The party has gained momentum since Hasina’s ouster and is widely viewed as the strongest contender in the upcoming parliamentary polls.

Party insiders say Rahman’s decision to return has been influenced by both political developments and personal circumstances. Khaleda Zia, now 80, has been seriously ill for months, prompting Rahman’s urgent return after years abroad.

Election Outlook

The February 12 elections will be Bangladesh’s first since the end of Hasina’s 15-year rule. A recent survey conducted by the US-based International Republican Institute suggested that the BNP is likely to emerge as the single largest party in Parliament, Reuters reported. The Jamaat-e-Islami, a hardline political force, is also expected to perform strongly.

Rahman is widely seen as the frontrunner for the prime minister’s post if the BNP secures a majority.

Exile and Legal History

Rahman has been living in London since 2008, following multiple criminal convictions, including charges of money laundering and involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate Sheikh Hasina. However, he was acquitted of all charges after Hasina’s removal from power, clearing the path for his return.

Reactions and Challenges Ahead

Bangladesh now stands at a crossroads. Rahman’s return will test the BNP’s ability to mobilise supporters peacefully and the interim government’s commitment to overseeing a credible transfer of power. The National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from last year’s youth-led protests, has said it views Rahman’s return positively.

Tarique Rahman: Political Heir and Early Life

Born in 1967 in then East Pakistan to Khaleda Zia and Ziaur Rahman, Tarique Rahman has long been a central figure in Bangladeshi politics. He was briefly detained as a child during the 1971 Liberation War, a detail the BNP often highlights, referring to him as one of the country’s “youngest prisoners of war.”

He studied international relations at Dhaka University before entering politics at the age of 23. His father, Ziaur Rahman, rose to power after the 1975 coup that killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, before being assassinated himself in 1981.

Conclusion

As Tarique Rahman returns to Bangladesh after nearly two decades, his arrival marks a defining moment in the country’s political reset. With elections looming and public expectations high, his leadership—and the response it generates—could shape Bangladesh’s next chapter.

Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople

Tarique Rahman’s return is more than a personal homecoming—it is a political signal in a country seeking stability after upheaval. Whether his arrival strengthens democratic transition or deepens political fault lines will depend on how Bangladesh navigates the critical weeks leading up to the February elections.