US EditionSon of former Bangladesh prime minister returns after 17 years in exile with a chance to lead
Tarique Rahman returned to lead the Bangladesh Nationalist Party ahead of the Feb. 12 election, with a December survey showing BNP poised to win the largest number of seats.
- On December 25, 2025, Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka after 17 years in exile, landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman, and was received by the BNP Standing Committee amid large crowds.
- Rahman had left Bangladesh in 2008 following imprisonment and a medical flight to the U.K., and courts later stayed or overturned convictions blocking his return after the August 2024 student-led uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina.
- The BNP is mobilising supporters and logistics, aiming to draw up to five million supporters in Dhaka, while BNP organisers furnished a house and bought bulletproof vehicles for security.
- He is widely expected to be put forward as prime minister if the BNP wins a majority, as Rahman will lead the party into the February 12 election.
- Given a UN death toll of up to 1,400, the February 12 election is a critical test of Bangladesh's democratic legitimacy amid unrest over Sharif Osman Hadi's killing and violent protests earlier this month.
113 Articles
113 Articles
Thousands of people gathered in Dhaka to welcome Tarique Rahman, opposition leader and acting head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Bangladesh is currently led by a transitional government, but important elections are due in February. Now, with Tarique Rahman, the most promising candidate has returned after many years abroad - thousands of supporters received him.
Radio France Internationale
Sun NewspapersBangladesh PM hopeful Rahman returns from exile ahead ...
BNP leader Rahman returns home after 17 yrs in exile, appeals for building inclusive Bangladesh
BNP leader Rahman returns home after 17 yrs in exile, appeals for building inclusive Bangladesh Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka to a rousing welcome by thousands of his supporters on Thursday after over 17 years in self-exile -- a homecoming that is expected to energise the party ahead of the February 12 parliamentary elections.Shortly after landing at the Hazrat Shahjalal International airport…
BNP acting chief Tarique Rahman returns to Bangladesh ahead of general elections
Tarique Rahman, the acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to the country on Thursday after 17 years in exile, reported The Daily Star.Rahman, who is a key contender to be the next prime minister of the country after the general elections in February, had been living in London since he fled Bangladesh in 2008.He was sentenced to life in prison for allegedly masterminding a gr…
Bangladesh protests LIVE update | ‘I have a plan’: Khaleda’s son Tarique Rahman references Martin Luther King Jr. in address after 17-year exile
Live updates on Bangladesh protests as Tarique Rahman returns after 17 years, amidst political tensions, violence, and diplomatic strains with India over recent violence and safety concerns. Stay informed on key developments.
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