Bangladesh Opposition Leader Tarique Rahman Returns After 17 Years in Exile
Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a leading contender for the premiership, has returned to Bangladesh after nearly 17 years in self-imposed exile, according to his party.
Rahman, 60, arrived in Dhaka on Thursday after living in London since 2008, when he left the country citing politically motivated persecution. Widely seen as the political heir to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, he is expected to formally assume leadership of the BNP as his 80-year-old mother battles prolonged illness.
His return triggered massive public scenes, with hundreds of thousands of supporters lining the route from the airport to the reception venue, waving party flags, banners and flowers while chanting slogans in his support. Senior BNP leaders received him under heavy security as he acknowledged the crowd with a smile.
The BNP said it aims to mobilize up to five million supporters in Dhaka to mark what it described as an unprecedented show of strength. Rahman is widely regarded as the frontrunner for prime minister ahead of February’s general election.
His homecoming comes as the BNP regains political momentum following the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina. Observers say Bangladesh is entering a volatile and uncertain phase, marked by a leadership vacuum within the opposition and deep political polarisation.
According to media reports, Rahman’s return is expected to fill a leadership gap in the BNP at a time when Khaleda Zia remains critically ill.Rahman may also play a role in easing political divisions, although concerns persist over the exclusion of Hasina’s Awami League from the upcoming elections.
Rahman is returning to a transformed political landscape. Previously unable to enter Bangladesh due to multiple criminal convictions handed down in absentia including money laundering and alleged involvement in a plot against Hasina those rulings were overturned following Hasina’s removal in a student led uprising last year, clearing the way for his return.
He originally moved to London for medical treatment after allegedly being tortured while in custody during the military backed administration that ruled between 2006 and 2008.
His return also carries personal significance, with party officials confirming he plans to visit his ailing mother after attending a public reception.
Bangladesh’s political order has shifted dramatically since Hasina’s fall, ending decades of power alternation between her and Khaleda Zia. A December survey by the US-based International Republican Institute indicated the BNP is likely to secure the largest number of parliamentary seats in the upcoming polls, with Jamaat-e-Islami also contesting. Hasina’s Awami League, barred from participation, has warned of unrest that could threaten electoral stability.
As Bangladesh heads toward elections under interim leader Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, authorities have pledged a free and peaceful vote. However, recent attacks on media outlets and sporadic violence have raised concerns, making Rahman’s return a pivotal moment in the country’s fragile political transition.
