Dhaka: Exiled Bangladeshi opposition leader Tarique Rahman announced on Monday that he plans to return home “soon” after 17 years in self-imposed exile to take part in Bangladesh’s first elections since the 2024 mass uprising that toppled the long-ruling government of Sheikh Hasina.
Rahman, 59, is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, making him heir to one of the country’s most influential political families. In an interview with BBC Bangla, Rahman said his long-awaited return was imminent.
“For some reasonable reasons my return hasn’t happened… but the time has come, and I will return soon, God willing,” Rahman said.
The upcoming elections, expected in February 2026, will mark Bangladesh’s first major democratic test since Hasina’s ouster last year following widespread protests that ended her 15-year rule. During her tenure, Hasina was accused of authoritarianism, election rigging, and a sweeping crackdown on opposition figures, particularly targeting the BNP.
Return After Years of Exile
Rahman, also known as Tarique Zia, has lived in London since 2008, where he fled claiming political persecution under Hasina’s government. He was convicted in absentia and handed a life sentence in connection with a 2004 grenade attack on a Hasina rally — a charge he has always denied. Following Hasina’s fall from power, Bangladesh’s courts acquitted him of the most serious charges, clearing the path for his political comeback.
Since then, Rahman has become increasingly vocal on social media, emerging as a rallying figure for BNP supporters both at home and abroad. “I am running in the election,” he confirmed in the BBC interview, adding that the people of Bangladesh would decide his political future.
Future Role and Khaleda Zia’s Health
When asked if he would assume the role of prime minister should the BNP form the next government, Rahman said, “The people will decide.”
His mother, Khaleda Zia, 80, who served twice as prime minister, has been in frail health since her imprisonment during Hasina’s tenure. She was released on medical grounds but remains largely out of the public eye. Rahman said his mother’s condition remains serious but did not rule out her involvement in the coming elections.
“She went to jail in good health and returned with ailments, she was deprived of her right to proper treatment,” Rahman said. “But if her health permits, she will definitely contribute to the election.”
New Political Landscape
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has banned Hasina’s Awami League, which ruled the country for over a decade. Yunus is expected to step down after the elections, paving the way for a new political order.
Rahman’s possible return could reshape Bangladesh’s political scene. His comeback is likely to energize BNP supporters and redefine the country’s opposition movement after years of suppression. However, questions remain over his security, eligibility, and whether his return will intensify the nation’s volatile political climate.
With Hasina in exile and the Awami League dissolved, the upcoming polls could see Tarique Rahman emerge as one of Bangladesh’s most pivotal political figures in a generation.
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