Acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman returns to Bangladesh after 17 years in London exile to lead BNP leader election plans in February’s general elections. He shared this in a BBC Bangla interview on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 4:35 PM. The announcement follows his acquittal in all cases filed under the ousted Awami League regime. BNP officials confirm no legal barriers remain.
This development marks a pivotal shift for Bangladesh, a key South Asian nation of 170 million. Rahman’s comeback could consolidate opposition forces against lingering authoritarian echoes, influencing regional dynamics. India, sheltering former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, faces strained ties as Dhaka demands her extradition. Stable polls here bolster democratic norms across the subcontinent, curbing extremism risks and trade disruptions worth USD 10 billion annually with neighbours.
BNP Leader Election Plans Gain Momentum
Tarique Rahman return to Bangladesh aligns with BNP leader election plans for the February vote. In the BBC interview, Rahman stated: “The time has come, God willing, I will return soon.” He added: “This is an election for which people had been waiting. I cannot keep myself away during this time.”
The BNP positions itself as frontrunner. Awami League remains barred from activity until trials end for alleged crimes during the 2024 uprising, which claimed 1,400 lives per UN data. Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus backs this exclusion, echoing BNP calls for justice. Rahman affirmed: “Those who ordered killing and torture, they must be brought to justice.”
BNP Standing Committee member AZM Zahid Hossain reinforced BNP leader election plans. On September 25, 2025, Zahid told reporters Tarique Rahman return to Bangladesh would occur within weeks to guide the “final stage of restoring democracy.” He highlighted Rahman’s 31-point programme, focusing on economic empowerment and anti-corruption drives. Party surveys show BNP support at 45% in urban areas, per internal polls shared in a BNP media briefing.
Reforms under Yunus include electoral body overhauls. The Election Commission announced candidate registration opens November 15, 2025. BNP aims to field 300 candidates, prioritising youth from the uprising. Rahman, 59, plans to contest from Dhaka-9, a BNP stronghold.
Khaleda Zia Son Exile Nears End Amid Family Legacy
Khaleda Zia son exile defines Tarique Rahman’s narrative. As son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, now 80 and frail, Rahman steps into her shoes. Zia, BNP chairperson, underwent treatment in Germany earlier this year but returned in May 2025. Doctors advise limited activity, paving Rahman’s path.
Khaleda Zia son exile began in 2008 when Rahman fled cases he calls “politically motivated.” A Dhaka court acquitted him in the 2004 grenade attack case on December 1, 2024, overturning a life sentence. Similar clearances came in corruption trials by January 15, 2025, and May 28, 2025. Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated on June 12, 2025: “There is no obstacle to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman returning to Bangladesh.”
This clears Khaleda Zia son exile hurdles. Rahman met Yunus privately in London on June 13, 2025, pledging reform support. BNP sources say the meeting covered extradition and media freedoms suppressed under Hasina.
Regional eyes watch closely. India’s silence on Hasina’s shelter irks Rahman. He told BBC: “If they want to displease Bangladeshi people by sheltering a dictator, then we have nothing to do about it.” Bangladesh issued an arrest warrant for Hasina on July 18, 2025; extradition talks stall.
Challenges in Post-Uprising Landscape
BNP leader election plans face rivals. Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist group, won student union majorities at Dhaka and Rajshahi universities in September 2025. It allies with other Islamists, eyeing 50 seats. Rahman dismissed threats: “The BNP faced competition before. There is nothing to be worried about.”
The National Citizens’ Party (NCP), born from uprising students, struggles. It garnered 12% in student polls, per Election Commission data. NCP leader Nahid Islam seeks alliances, but BNP rejects ties, citing ideological gaps.
Economic stakes loom. GDP growth hit 5.2% in Q2 2025, per Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, but inflation at 9.5% fuels unrest. BNP promises USD 5 billion in foreign investment via trade pacts. Rahman vows probes into USD 100 billion in alleged graft under Hasina.
Media scrutiny intensifies. Hasina banned Rahman’s speeches; he pledges press freedoms if elected. BBC Bangla’s Mir Sabbir and Qadir Kallol conducted the interview, Rahman’s first in-person in 17 years.
Background: From Uprising to Polls
The 2024 uprising toppled Hasina after 15 years. Student protests turned violent; security forces killed 1,400, per UN. Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024. Yunus assumed charge August 8, 2024, forming an interim setup.
Acquittals followed. High Court cleared Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust case January 15, 2025. Grenade verdict reversed December 1, 2024. These enabled Tarique Rahman return to Bangladesh talks. BNP boycotted 2024 polls as “sham.” Now, with 80% voter turnout projected, stakes rise.
What’s Next for Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh
As Tarique Rahman return to Bangladesh unfolds, BNP ramps up rallies. A October 15, 2025, Dhaka event expects 100,000 attendees. Rahman eyes prime ministership if BNP secures 226 seats.
Voter registration ends November 30, 2025. International observers from UN and EU arrive January 2026. Success could stabilise South Asia; failure risks unrest. BNP leader election plans hinge on unity. Khaleda Zia son exile closure symbolises renewal. Bangladesh awaits a vote testing democracy’s resilience.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 7th, 2025
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram, and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
