Dhaka, Dec 25: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman is set to return to Bangladesh on December 25 after nearly 17 years in exile, a development that could significantly reshape the country’s political landscape ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12.
The BNP has announced plans to mobilise around five million supporters to welcome Rahman, projecting the event as a major show of strength as the party seeks to consolidate its position ahead of the polls. Rahman, 60, the acting chairman of the BNP and son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is widely viewed by analysts as a leading contender for the premiership.
His return comes at a critical juncture for Bangladesh, which has been governed by an interim administration led by chief adviser Mohammad Yunus since the ouster of long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising in 2024. The political transition has left a vacuum, with the Awami League barred from contesting the upcoming election, raising concerns among observers about potential unrest and electoral stability.
A recent survey by the US-based International Republican Institute suggests that the BNP is on course to win the largest number of parliamentary seats, while Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami has also emerged as a significant contender. The February vote will be the first national election since the end of Hasina’s 15-year rule.
BNP leaders have described Rahman’s homecoming as a “defining political moment” for the country. Party insiders say his decision to return has been driven by both the shifting political environment and personal reasons, including the prolonged illness of his mother, Khaleda Zia.
Rahman had been living in London since 2008 after facing multiple criminal convictions, which were overturned following Hasina’s removal from power. His return is seen as a test of the BNP’s ability to mobilise supporters peacefully, as well as of the interim government’s pledge to oversee a credible and orderly transfer of power.
The National Citizen Party, which emerged from last year’s student protests, has welcomed Rahman’s return, underscoring the high stakes surrounding his homecoming as Bangladesh heads into a pivotal election season.
