Bangladesh: In the historic election held yesterday in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won more than a two-thirds majority. With vote counting nearly complete in most constituencies, BNP has secured over 200 seats out of 300 in parliament. With this result, BNP leader Tarique Rahman is almost certain to become the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
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| Source: onlinekhabar |
The 60-year-old Rahman is the leading figure of the influential Zia family, which has dominated the country’s politics for decades. His father, Ziaur Rahman, and mother, Khaleda Zia, both previously led Bangladesh.
Historical Background
Tarique Rahman was born on November 20, 1965, in Dhaka, then part of East Pakistan.
His father, Ziaur Rahman, was a military leader who declared Bangladesh’s independence and later became President. However, he was assassinated in 1981 in Chittagong during an attempted military coup at the age of 45.
After his death, Khaleda Zia became Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and led the country for 15 years.
Tarique began his political journey at a young age. He became a primary member of BNP in 1988 and played a major role in his mother’s election campaigns in 1991 and 1996.
When BNP came to power in 2001, he became the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General. He traveled across the country to strengthen the party organization at the grassroots level, which made him popular among party workers.
However, the 2001–2006 BNP government was a period of both success and controversy for Tarique. During this time, he faced repeated allegations. After the BNP-led government stepped down in October 2006, the country entered a period of intense political unrest.
At that time, opposition leader Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League accused BNP and its leadership of serious misconduct.
Awami League alleged that BNP tried to influence election outcomes by appointing biased individuals such as former Chief Justice KM Hasan as head of the caretaker government. The opposition also accused BNP of creating a fake voter list including millions of fraudulent voters to manipulate elections.
Further allegations included appointing loyalists in civil administration, police, and the Election Commission to influence the voting process.
Sheikh Hasina also accused the BNP coalition of having tacit links with banned Islamist groups such as Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, which were responsible for violent bomb attacks across the country.
Although corruption allegations persisted throughout BNP’s 2001–2006 tenure, they intensified in 2007. BNP’s Dhaka office at “Hawa Bhaban,” allegedly influenced by Tarique Rahman, was described by opponents as a “parallel center of power.”
These accusations and violent protests led to political deadlock, culminating in a military-backed takeover in January 2007. A new interim government launched large-scale anti-corruption campaigns.
Tarique was arrested by the military-backed caretaker government on corruption charges. He reportedly suffered severe torture in prison and was allowed to travel to London in 2008 for medical treatment.
Exile in London and Political Reorganization (2008–2025)
Tarique Rahman’s exile in London became the greatest test of his political life.
For 17 years, despite physical and emotional distance from Bangladesh, he continued running BNP from London through video conferences with party members.
During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, dozens of cases were filed against him. Bangladeshi courts convicted him of illegal money laundering and corruption. He was sentenced to long prison terms in multiple cases. Since he was not physically present in court, trials were conducted in absentia.
Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against him, restricting his international travel. The Hasina government banned the broadcast of his speeches and interviews to sideline him from mainstream politics.
During exile, he applied for refugee status in the United Kingdom. His movements and activities were closely monitored during the legal process.
In the previous election two years earlier, Rahman remained in exile in London, while Hasina’s administration jailed many BNP leaders and supporters.
In 2018, Khaleda Zia was convicted in corruption cases filed by the Awami League government and imprisoned. Her health deteriorated severely in prison, leading to house arrest and hospitalization.
After battling serious illnesses for years, Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30, 2025, while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
The “July Revolution” and the Road to Return
In 2024, students began protests against the government quota system, which later evolved into demands for Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and removal. More than 1,000 protesters reportedly died in the violent unrest, after which Hasina went into exile in India.
This created a political environment in Bangladesh without the Awami League. The interim government restructured the Election Commission, police administration, and judiciary to prepare for the current election.
After Hasina’s government fell in August 2024, major political changes followed. The interim government withdrew politically motivated cases from the Hasina era, clearing the way for Tarique Rahman’s return home.
The Meaning of the Election Result
Although BNP secured a two-thirds majority, this victory is not solely the result of Tarique Rahman’s popularity.
BNP supporters viewed him as the primary victim of Hasina’s “authoritarianism.” Stories of his exile and alleged torture stirred strong emotions among supporters. Despite remaining in London, he kept the party organization alive.
He also engaged with student movement leaders to attract young voters.
Moreover, since the Awami League was barred from participating in the election, BNP’s victory was widely anticipated.
