Dhaka, Bangladesh – Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and a leading figure within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in self-imposed exile. His arrival has ignited political fervor, with supporters hopeful that he will lead the party to victory in the upcoming general elections and potentially become the next Prime Minister.
Rahman, accompanied by his wife and daughter, arrived at Dhaka’s airport where he was greeted by enthusiastic party officials. Video footage released by the BNP showed Rahman waving to supporters before departing in a motorcade with heavy security. Thousands of BNP supporters gathered in the capital early Thursday, displaying banners bearing Rahman’s image and playing patriotic songs.
“The country is in a bad situation,” Moghir Hussein told DZWatch, adding that Rahman is “the only one capable of fixing it.”
Rahman left Bangladesh for London in 2008, citing political persecution. He is expected to spearhead the BNP’s campaign for the general elections scheduled for February 12th. These elections will be the first since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following widespread protests last year.
The BNP is considered a frontrunner in the election race, and Rahman’s name is likely to be put forward as a prime ministerial candidate should the party secure a parliamentary majority. Khaleda Zia had pledged to participate in the election campaign but was hospitalized shortly after and remains in intensive care.
Since Hasina’s removal from power, Rahman has been acquitted of several high-profile charges, including a life sentence in absentia related to a 2004 grenade attack on a political rally. The February elections mark the first since the popular uprising that ended Hasina’s 15-year rule last year.
The return of Tarique Rahman adds a new dimension to Bangladesh’s political landscape, setting the stage for a potentially transformative election cycle.
