After nearly 17 years in self-imposed exile, Tariq Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has found himself in Dhaka. Welcomed by thousands across the country, Rahman’s return marked a significant change in Dhaka’s political scene.
On December 25, 2025, Tariq Rahman returned to Dhaka just in time for the national elections. Greeted by masses of people, many of them longtime BNP activists, Rahman vowed to restore peace and stability to Bangladesh and make Dhaka the nation “we all dream of”. By that time his mother was ill. (AP)Often referred to as the “dark prince” of Bangladesh for being mostly behind the scenes for mother Khaleda Zia, Rahman returned when she was on her deathbed. And he now has a role to play as Dhaka hopes to move toward stability after nearly two years of recent political turmoil. Follow live updates of Bangladesh election here
Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections are being held on Thursday, February 12 – the first since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Along with the election, the country will also hold a national referendum on the charter in July 2024. The charter was designed to establish governance, democracy and social justice through institutional reforms and to prevent “the recurrence of authoritarian and fascist regimes”.
Hasina was removed from her post after violent and dramatic student-led protests in Bangladesh. The student movement initially began as a protest against ‘war heroes’ and their children’s quotas in government jobs.
However, the Awami League government’s violent crackdown on the agitators, which resulted in the deaths of many student-activists, soon turned into a movement that would change the nation’s history.
As of August 2024, Bangladesh is being governed by an interim government led by Nobel-winning economist Muhammad Yunus. And, almost two years later, Dhaka is ready to vote its new government with Tariq Rahman clearly in front.
Why did Tarek Rahman return to Bangladesh?Tariq Rahman is the elder son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Tariq Rahman was referred to as the ‘Dark Prince’ and ‘Shadow PMO’ during his tenure. From 2001 to 2006, it was believed that Rahman was running the show behind the scenes while his mother sat in the prime minister’s chair.
From 2006 to 2008, Bangladesh witnessed a violent civil unrest, which led to the formation of a caretaker government by the military. At that time, Rahman was arrested on charges of money laundering. He was also charged with conspiracy to kill Sheikh Hasina and her associates.
Ultimately, in 2008, Khaleda Zia was defeated, and the BNP was ousted from government with Hasina’s victory. Moments later, Rahman found himself on a plane to London, where he would stay for the next 17 years.
Despite Rahman’s exile, Khaleda Zia remains a prominent figure in Bangladeshi politics. However, the BNP has long accused the Awami League of rigging the elections in its favour, hence, they boycotted the 2024 elections, which ended in another “victory” for Hasina.
On December 25, 2025, Tariq Rahman returned to Dhaka just in time for the national elections. Greeted by masses of people, many of them longtime BNP activists, Rahman vowed to restore peace and stability to Bangladesh and make Dhaka the nation “we all dream of”.
He also sought to strike a conciliatory note on the issue of minority rights, after accusing the BNP and its one-time ally Jamaat-e-Islami of being hostile to Hindus and other non-Muslims in Muslim-majority countries. Hasina was seen as more secular.
The BNP leader said, “The time has come for all of us to build the country together. This country belongs to the people of hills and plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. We want to build a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man and child can leave their homes and return safely.”
Khaleda Zia died after a long illness five days after returning home, leading to Rahman’s elevation to the post of BNP chairman. On 10 January 2026, Rahman was approved by the party’s standing committee. Speaking at a meet-and-greet event, Tariq Rahman said that the political situation in Dhaka before August 5, 2024, the day of Hasina’s ouster There is “no reason” to go back to Thailand.
What is BNP’s plan for the 2026 election?Rahman’s vow to build Bangladesh “we dream” is also reflected in BNP’s election manifesto. In a section titled ‘Bangladesh first’, the party focused on a foreign policy based on “equality and self-respect”, adding that Dhaka would not interfere in the affairs of other countries and would not stand for any interference at home.
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Other key promises of BNP are working on political, economic reforms, religious freedom and national unity. Rahman’s party’s election campaign has emphasized national unity, especially religious harmony, as attacks on minorities have increased in the country in recent times.
Freed from Hasina’s long rule, BNP has promised a more people-oriented and inclusive government. The party also called for a 10-year limit on the official tenure of the prime minister and a vice-president.
Will Dhaka see the revival of BNP?According to recent opinion polls, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is expected to get a large number of votes and is currently leading.
According to a poll conducted by the International Institute of Law and Diplomacy (IILD) in Dhaka, the BNP is likely to get 44.1 percent of the vote, while the electoral alliance of 11 political parties led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is expected to get 43.9 percent of the vote. Furthermore, 1.7 percent of voters supported the National Party (Japa) and 6.5 percent said they were still undecided who to vote for.
A survey conducted by Innovation Consulting in January predicted that the BNP would get 52.8 percent of the vote.
Similarly, the survey by Eminence Associates for Social Development (EASD) also projected a clear lead for the BNP-led coalition with 208 seats and 66.3 percent vote share.
With Hasina gone, BNP’s secular turnAfter Rahman’s return to Dhaka, many experts say the BNP is now trying to fill the vacuum left by the Awami League and present itself as a secular, moderate party that will bring stability to Bangladesh. BNP’s split with JMI also reflects this position, while the earlier Islamist party was a long-time ally of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The 2026 elections are also expected to be more favorable to BNP and Rahman since Hasina’s Awami League is barred from contesting.
