Bangladesh Opposition Leader Tarique Rahman Returns from Exile, Poised for Possible Premiership

After nearly two decades in exile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman has returned to the country and is emerging as a frontrunner to become the next prime minister following the upcoming national election, according to a Reuters report published on Tuesday.

If opinion polls prove accurate, Thursday’s election on February 12 could mark a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of the soft-spoken 60-year-old opposition leader.

Rahman left Bangladesh in 2008 for medical treatment after being released from detention during the period of a military-backed caretaker government. He had been arrested as part of an anti-corruption drive at the time.

His return comes in the aftermath of the collapse of the long-ruling government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a long-time political rival of the BNP, which fell amid a youth-led mass uprising in August 2024. Hasina later fled to India and is currently living in exile in New Delhi.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December last year on Christmas Day, receiving what supporters described as a hero’s welcome.

Tarique Rahman is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who dominated Bangladeshi politics for years, and the late Ziaur Rahman, a key figure in Bangladesh’s war of independence. Ziaur Rahman ruled the country from 1977 until his assassination in 1981.

Rahman has pledged to rebuild Bangladesh’s international partnerships, saying his government would seek to attract investment without becoming overly dependent on any single country. During her time in office, Sheikh Hasina maintained particularly close ties with India.

Speaking to Reuters, Rahman stressed the need for reconciliation and stability in the country.

“What does revenge bring to anyone’s life?” he said. “Because of revenge, people are forced to flee the country. Nothing good comes from it. Right now, our country needs peace and stability.”

As Bangladesh heads into a pivotal election, Rahman’s return from long exile and his potential ascent to the premiership underscore the scale of political change reshaping the country.