Dhaka, December 26: Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a leading contender to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister, returned home on Thursday after nearly 17 years in exile, drawing massive crowds of supporters and injecting fresh momentum into the country’s volatile political transition.
Rahman, 60, arrived in Dhaka from London, where he had lived since 2008 after fleeing what he described as politically motivated persecution. Hundreds of thousands of BNP supporters lined the route from the airport to a reception venue, waving party flags, chanting slogans and showering him with flowers as senior party leaders welcomed him under tight security.
Dressed in a light grey blazer over a white shirt, Rahman stepped barefoot onto Bangladeshi soil and scooped up a handful of earth in a symbolic gesture marking his return.
Addressing cheering supporters, Rahman pledged to unite the country and ensure safety for people of all faiths. “We will build a Bangladesh that a mother dreams of,” he said, calling on Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians from across the country to work together. He repeatedly stressed his desire for stability, saying: “We want peace in the country.”
Rahman is widely viewed as the frontrunner in February’s general election and is expected to take over leadership from his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, 80, who has been seriously ill for months. Party officials said Rahman was expected to visit her later in the day.
His return comes after the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina, ending decades of political dominance alternated largely between Hasina and Khaleda Zia. The BNP has since regained momentum, while Bangladesh is being governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Analysts say Rahman’s return fills a leadership vacuum at a critical time. “Bangladesh is going through a very volatile and uncertain future,” said Tanvir Chowdhury of Al Jazeera, noting that the BNP lacked clear leadership due to Khaleda Zia’s illness.
Rahman had long been unable to return because of multiple criminal cases, including convictions in absentia on charges such as money laundering and an alleged plot to assassinate Hasina. Those rulings were overturned after Hasina was removed from power, clearing the way for his homecoming.
He had moved to London for medical treatment after alleging he was tortured while in custody during the military-backed government that ruled from 2006 to 2008.
The political landscape remains deeply polarised. Critics have raised concerns over the exclusion of Hasina’s Awami League party from the upcoming election, while the party has threatened unrest that could disrupt the vote. A recent survey by the U.S.-based International Republican Institute suggested the BNP is on course to win the largest number of parliamentary seats, with the Jamaat-e-Islami party also contesting.
Authorities have pledged a free and peaceful election, but sporadic violence and recent attacks on media outlets have raised concerns, making Rahman’s return a pivotal moment for both the BNP and Bangladesh’s fragile democratic transition.
