Dhaka: After nearly 17 years in self-imposed exile in London, Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to Dhaka on Wednesday amid massive preparations by party supporters.
His arrival marks a pivotal moment for Bangladesh’s politics, as the nation gears up for parliamentary elections in February 2026 under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Tarique, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter, Zaima, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around noon on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. The BNP mobilised thousands of activists, including special trains from across the country, to welcome him in a grand reception at Purbachal’s 300 feet. From there, he headed to Evercare Hospital to visit his ailing mother, Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment for serious health issues.
In recent statements, Tarique has outlined a clear agenda focused on “Bangladesh”First”— prioritising national interests over external alliances. He has criticised the current interim government’s alleged anti-Indian foreign policy trends and vowed to reverse them, emphasising balanced diplomacy while rejecting undue influence from any neighbour. He also stressed anti-corruption drives, greater women’s economic participation (noting the stark gender gap), protection of minorities, and condemnation of extremist elements like Jamaat-e-Islami for their historical role in 1971.
As the BNP positions itself as the frontrunner in the upcoming polls – with Tarique widely considered a potential prime ministerial candidate – his homecoming could reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape and foreign relations, especially amid ongoing concerns over law and order.