New Delhi: Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a scathing attack on BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s dramatic return to Dhaka after 17 years in exile, warning that it signals no positive change but will instead intensify political polarisation and destabilise the nation further.
In a strongly-worded statement, Hasina asserted that Rahman’s homecoming – after fleeing corruption and power misuse charges during her tenure – would revive the old era of graft, violence, and extremism that Bangladesh has already suffered immensely. “His long stay abroad has disconnected him from the real struggles of the common people,” she remarked, emphasising that his leadership offers no scope for genuine reform or reconciliation.
Rahman, son of the late President Ziaur Rahman and former PM Khaleda Zia, arrived amid heightened tensions ahead of February elections, positioning himself as a key contender in the BNP-led alliance. Hasina accused his return of emboldening forces behind recent minority attacks, including rising violence against Hindus, with reports of 11 killings in the past 35 days.
This development risks straining regional ties, as Rahman seeks balanced relations with India, China, and Pakistan, while factions within BNP harbour suspicions towards New Delhi. Facing sedition charges and a death sentence in absentia, Hasina’s critique underscores deepening rifts in Bangladesh’s turbulent political landscape, where hopes for stability clash with fears of renewed confrontation.