After 17 years in exile, Tarique Rahman comes back to Bangladesh, energising BNP
Dhaka (The Uttam Hindu): Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Executive Chairman Tarique Rahman has returned home after 17 years. Amid ongoing political instability and chaos in the country, preparations for the general elections have intensified. Rahman's return has brought renewed enthusiasm among BNP supporters. However, building trust within the party will be difficult, as party leaders and workers struggled at the grassroots level during his exile.
The return of Tarique Rahman, scion of the influential Zia family, is being seen as a major blow to the interim government. A special assistant to caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus has resigned, causing a stir in political circles. This could further facilitate the BNP's efforts to garner support.
Tariq emerges as a strong contender for the post of PM
Tariq Rahman (60), the elder son of former Prime Minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia (80), has emerged as a leading contender for the post of Prime Minister in the general elections expected in February. BNP spokesperson Ruhul Kabir Rizvi described his return as a "defining political moment." Tariq's father, Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler-turned-politician, founded the BNP and served as President from 1977 to 1981, when he was assassinated. The interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has ordered tight security arrangements in anticipation of Tariq Rahman's return. The BNP has set a target of mobilizing lakhs of supporters to welcome him as a show of strength.
The scenario has changed after Sheikh Hasina's ouster from power.
Tarique Rahman's return comes at a time when the Awami League government of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power following violent student-led protests on August 5, 2024. In the changed political landscape, the BNP is once again emerging as a major force. Jamaat-e-Islami and its Islamist parties, which were allies of the BNP during its 2001-2006 rule, have now become the BNP's main rivals. The interim government has also issued an order under the anti-terrorism law, dissolving the Awami League. Political analysts believe that Tarique Rahman's return could mark a turning point in Bangladeshi politics and make the upcoming elections more interesting.