Bangladesh election: Why BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s return matters

Bangladesh election: Why BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s return matters Rahman’s return will bolster the BNP, and could stabilise Bangladesh politics amid chaos and violence, say experts. But only if he shows that he can connect with the people. Dhaka, Bangladesh - Standing amid a sea of people on the outskirts of Dhaka, Tarique Rahman , the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), declared that he had “a plan for the people and for the country”. It’s a plan that has been 17 years in the making. On Thursday, the son of the critically ill BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia landed in Dhaka, returning from Britain, where he had lived in exile since 2008. Tens of thousands of supporters gathered at a rally to welcome him home. “We want peace,” Rahman said. “We have people from the hills and the plains in this country - Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. We want to build a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man and child can leave home safely and return safely.” His return comes at a time of heightened political uncertainty and tension in Bangladesh, following the assassination of prominent youth leader Osman Hadi and with a national election scheduled for February 2026. The BNP has long been widely seen as the frontrunner in the polls, with Rahman viewed as a leading contender for the prime ministership. But the escalating violence in the country following Hadi’s assassination - the offices of the country’s two leading newspapers were set on fire, and a Hindu man was lynched - and deepening political tensions had led to fears that the election might be derailed. Analysts say that Tarique Rahman’s return and his speech are likely to help calm the country’s political waters and reinforce the momentum for Bangladesh to hold its election as planned. “His arrival has opened a new window of opportunity. I think this will reduce the uncertainty about election and create a sense of stability that the country is looking for,” said Asif Mohammad Shahan, professor of development studies at the University of Dhaka. None of this was guaranteed even a few days ago. Uncertainty to stability With his mother, Khaleda Zia, critically ill, Rahman, whose father Ziaur Rahman was president from 1977 until his assassination in 1981, had long been expected to play a decisive role in shaping the BNP’s prospects at the upcoming elections. Until recently, however, his return from exile had remained uncertain. Rahman himself had demurred on committing to return. His arrival now clears that uncertainty but opens up a new question, said Shahan: Can Rahman truly lead? “If he takes a firm stance against extremism, assures the people that he understands their concerns and will work for a stable political future, promises to bring about normalcy and shows that he is ready to govern while establishing a firm control over party apparatus, the political situation will improve significantly,” Shahan said. But if Rahman fails to deliver a clear message, “things will deteriorate,”...

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