What is the story about?
In a massive turn in Bangladesh’s national politics, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to form the government in the country nearly 18 months after Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule ended following
student-led protests in July 2024.
With BNP winning over 200 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad or House of the Nation, party chairman Tarique Rahman is said to assume the office of Prime Minister.
Rahman’s rise in the country’s politics marks a dramatic comeback following his 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. Multiple media tallies showed the BNP had won more than 200 seats as the counting is still underway.
Who Is Tarique Rahman?
- Tarique Rahman, born on November 20, 1965 in Dhaka, is the son of BNP supremo and former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He returned to Bangladesh a few months back, after ending his 17 years of self-imposed exile.
- He left Bangladesh in 2008 after detention during an anti-corruption crackdown under a military-backed government. He also faced multiple corruption and criminal cases under Sheikh Hasina’s rule, which he denied and termed as ‘politically motivated’.
- Rahman took over leadership of the BNP from his mother, Khaleda Zia, a giant political figure in Bangladeshi politics. Zia died just five days after Rahman returned home in December.
- He returned to Bangladesh in December 2024 to a hero’s welcome after years in exile. His return came after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024 following a youth-led uprising.
- The BNP chairman was cleared of past cases following the change in government. He then took direct control of BNP’s campaign, candidate selection and alliance strategy.
- He led his party — BNP — along with the alliance to cross the 200-mark tally in the 13th national election of Bangladesh and is now poised to become the next Prime Minister of the country.
