Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman is on the verge of becoming the country's next Prime Minister as he leads his party toward the February 12 national election. A Reuters report published on Tuesday highlights Rahman’s political resurgence following nearly two decades in exile.
If current opinion polls hold, Thursday’s election will mark a historic shift for the 60-year-old leader. Tarique Rahman, who left Bangladesh in 2008 during a military-backed caretaker government's anti-corruption drive, returned to a hero's welcome on Christmas Day last year. His return followed the August 2024 mass movement that ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.
The son of two former leaders—independence figure Ziaur Rahman and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia—Rahman is positioning himself as a leader of reconciliation. In recent statements, he has pledged to move past the "politics of revenge," emphasizing that his priority is peace and national stability.
"What does revenge bring to anyone's life? People are forced to flee because of it," Rahman told Reuters. "Our country needs stability above all else."
Unlike the previous administration’s close alignment with New Delhi, Rahman has promised a more balanced international approach. He aims to attract global investment by fostering diverse partnerships, asserting that Bangladesh’s interests are best served by broad international cooperation rather than dependency on a single power.
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