Less than two months after returning from nearly two decades of self-imposed exile in London, Tarique Rahman could win one of Bangladesh's most pivotal elections and become prime minister, leading the country as his parents once did.
According to news agency Reuters, if opinion polls hold, Thursday's election would mark a remarkable reversal of fortune for the soft-spoken 60-year-old, who left the country in 2008, saying he needed medical treatment after his release from detention.
He had been held after a crackdown on corruption. He returned home to a hero's welcome last Christmas after a youth-driven uprising uprooted his Bangladesh Nationalist Party's arch-enemy, long-time premier Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, in August 2024.
Rahman has pledged to recalibrate Bangladesh’s international partnerships to attract investment without tying the country too closely to any single power, in contrast with ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, who was seen as aligned with New Delhi.
Rahman's big poll promises
- Rahman highlighted expanding financial aid for poor families
- Reducing reliance on garment exports by promoting industries such as toys and leather goods
- Introducing a two-term, 10-year limit for prime ministers to deter autocratic tendencies
Who is Tarique Rahman?
The bespectacled Rahman was born on November 20, 1965, in Dhaka to Khaleda and former President Ziaur Rahman, the founder of the BNP. He studied international relations at the University of Dhaka, dropped out, and later started businesses in textiles and agro-products.
How Rahman is busy in "image makeover"
Since his return, Rahman has tried to project himself as a statesman ready to look beyond his family's difficulties under Hasina. Gone is the image of a brash operator from the BNP’s 2001–2006 era, when his mother was prime minister.
Although he never held a government post, Rahman was often accused of running a parallel power centre during her tenure, a charge he denies. "What does revenge bring to someone? People have to flee from this country because of revenge. This does not bring anything good," he said.
"What we need at the moment in the country is peace and stability."
Under Hasina’s rule, Rahman became a central target of corruption cases and was convicted in absentia in several of them. In 2018, he was also sentenced to life over a 2004 grenade attack on a rally that Hasina was addressing, which killed and wounded many.
He has always denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated, and has since been acquitted in all cases following Hasina’s ouster.
What happens if Tarique Rahman came into power?
India-Bangladesh ties soured after Sheikh Hasina's 2024 ouster and exile in Delhi, amid border killings, Teesta water disputes, migrant "push-ins," and perceived Indian complicity. Analysts view a BNP win as a boon for balanced, pragmatic relations, though risks of friction over Hasina's status or assertive demands could make it a bane for strained diplomacy. Results today will clarify the path.
Reset possible: Rahman has pledged friendship with all countries, including India, while prioritising Bangladesh's interests first ("Bangladesh before everything")
Foreign policy: Unlike Hasina's perceived heavy alignment with India, Tarique aims for multi-directional ties, which could reduce India's leverage but open fairer trade and investment opportunities.
Security concerns: Past BNP rule (2001–2006) saw anti-India issues like insurgent safe havens and border instability; some analysts fear a repeat, though Tarique's team has assured no use of Bangladeshi soil against India.
Assertive on disputes: BNP manifesto emphasises strict action on border killings, smuggling, and unresolved river-sharing, potentially straining ties short-term but forcing realistic negotiations.
Minority protection pledge: He promises safeguards for Hindus or minorities and has emphasised inclusive Bangladesh, which could ease India's concerns over post-2024 attacks.
In brief, he's likely better than a hardline anti-India alternative but not as reliably aligned as the previous Awami League regime, pragmatic cooperation is possible if mutual interests align.