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Who is Tarique Rahman, and why his return to Bangladesh after 17 years is being keenly watched in India
Rahman left Bangladesh in 2008 for medical treatment amid legal and political pressure. His return comes as Bangladesh undergoes a fragile transition following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and a phase of recurring political violence.
Who is Tarique Rahman?
Tarique Rahman, 58, is the elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and the acting chairman of the BNP. He has lived in London since 2008 after leaving Bangladesh amid multiple criminal convictions, including money laundering and charges linked to an alleged plot to assassinate then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Over the past year, Bangladesh’s higher courts have acquitted him in all major cases, including the 2004 grenade attack and the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. These rulings removed the legal barriers to his return. Widely seen as the BNP’s de facto leader, Rahman has announced plans to contest the February 2026 general elections.
Why his return matters now
Rahman’s return comes at a time of sharp political transition. A nationwide uprising last year forced Sheikh Hasina out of power after 15 years. In the aftermath, a Yunus-led interim government took charge. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Chief Adviser, tasked with reforms and ensuring a fair electoral process ahead of the 2026 polls.
Bangladesh has also seen repeated violence since Hasina’s ouster. The recent killing of youth leader Osman Hadi, a key figure in Hasina’s removal, has renewed tensions. Hadi’s brother alleged the murder was aimed at “sabotaging polls”.
Against this backdrop, Rahman’s return has been facilitated by the interim government. Earlier this month, foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain said the government could issue a “one-time” travel pass within a day if Rahman wished to return. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also discussed the issue at a recent meeting, officials said.
Why India is closely watching developments in Bangladesh
For India, political stability in Bangladesh has direct regional implications. Bangladesh is India’s close neighbour with deep economic, security and people-to-people links. Any leadership change in Dhaka affects regional cooperation, border management and trade flows.
Rahman’s homecoming ends years of BNP leadership from abroad and strengthens the party’s position as a key contender in upcoming elections. Supporters see him as a potential prime ministerial candidate, which could alter Bangladesh’s political direction after nearly two decades dominated by the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina.
BNP leaders said Rahman will complete formalities to become a registered voter on December 27, enabling him to play a direct role in electoral politics.
Rahman earlier told BBC Bangla, “For some reasonable reasons my return has not happened… but the time has come, and I will return soon… I am running in the election [as well].”
Will Rahman emerge as the next PM?
Bangladesh’s political order has been reshaped since the violent 2024 uprising that led to Hasina’s ouster and the disbanding of her Awami League by the interim government.
With the Awami League barred from elections and traditional alliances fractured, including the long-standing BNP–Jamaat partnership, the BNP is placing its bet on Rahman. The rise of the student-led National Citizen Party, formed after the July protests and now registered with the Election Commission, has added uncertainty to the electoral field.
As Khaleda Zia, now 80, battles health issues, the BNP sees Tarique Rahman as its most viable leader going into the first election in nearly two decades without the Awami League. Political observers view the BNP as a frontrunner, with Rahman tipped as a possible prime ministerial candidate if the party secures a majority.
Khaleda Zia’s legacy and its shadow
Bangladesh’s politics for three decades has alternated between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. Zia was the country’s first female prime minister, serving from 1991 to 1995 and again from 2001 to 2006.
Her tenure remains fresh in public memory, especially among political groups that opposed Hasina on allegations of corruption. At the same time, her rule also saw allegations of atrocities and discrimination against minorities. In 2018, Zia was sentenced to five years in prison on graft charges.
