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Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh After 17-Year Exile, Eyes Premiership
Dhaka, Bangladesh – After a 17-year absence, Tarique Rahman, the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), made a dramatic return to Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka on Thursday. Rahman, 60, has been living in exile in Britain since 2008 but is now back on home soil, poised as a leading contender for the nation’s next prime minister.
Rahman continued to lead the BNP from abroad during his lengthy exile, but his physical presence in Bangladesh marks a significant shift as the country prepares for parliamentary elections in February. His return comes at a pivotal time, especially with the Awami League party, formerly led by ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now outlawed. The BNP is widely considered the most politically influential party in Bangladesh, positioning Rahman favorably for the top leadership role.
Rahman’s exile began in 2008 following accusations of corruption by a caretaker government in 2007. He was released on bail and subsequently left for Britain, where he remained until his return this week.
Meanwhile, a stark contrast exists in the political fortunes of his long-time rival. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 78, is currently in exile in India after her Awami League party was overthrown and outlawed in 2024.
In a further development, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia in November by the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh. The charges stemmed from her alleged role in violently suppressing anti-government protests, which resulted in an estimated 1,400 deaths of student participants.
The political rivalry between Rahman and Hasina’s families has deep roots, tracing back to the late 1970s. Rahman’s father, Zia ur Rahman, assumed control of the Bangladeshi government after the assassination of Sheikh Muji, also known as Mugibur Rahman.
Zia Rahman himself was assassinated during an attempted military coup, which paved the way for Rahman’s mother, Khaleda Zia, to become Bangladesh’s first female prime minister in 1991. Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina were prominent political rivals, often alternating as prime minister as their respective parties vied for political power over the past three decades.
With Rahman’s return, Bangladesh’s political landscape is set for a significant shake-up as the nation heads towards its upcoming elections.