Bangladesh’s opposition BNP is preparing a major mobilisation to welcome acting chairman Tarique Rahman as he returns from nearly 17 years in exile. Rahman, 60, is viewed as the BNP’s leading contender ahead of the Feb. 12 parliamentary vote, from which Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League is barred. His arrival follows court clearances of past convictions and occurs during a fragile interim transition led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Observers warn that violence and recent media attacks could complicate efforts to hold a credible election.
Tarique Rahman’s Historic Homecoming: BNP Plans Mass Mobilisation Ahead Of Feb. 12 Vote
Acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Tarique Rahman, at a park in southwest London, UK [File: Henry Nicholas/AFP]
Bangladesh’s main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is preparing a massive show of support as its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, prepares to return home after nearly 17 years in exile.
BNP organisers say they hope to mobilise as many as five million supporters in Dhaka to welcome Rahman, who is widely regarded as the party’s likely prime ministerial contender ahead of the parliamentary election scheduled for February 12. His arrival from London is expected to mark a pivotal moment in a fast-changing political landscape.
Background and Legal Clearance
Rahman, 60, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has lived in London since 2008 after being convicted in Bangladesh on several charges, including money laundering and allegations linked to an alleged plot to assassinate Sheikh Hasina. Courts subsequently cleared those convictions after Sheikh Hasina was removed from office amid a student-led uprising last year, removing legal barriers that had previously prevented his return.
Logistics and Security
BNP officials say they are coordinating security arrangements with authorities for what they describe as an “unprecedented” mobilisation. Supporters are expected to line the route from the airport to the rally venue; Rahman is reported to plan a direct transfer from the airport to the reception site before visiting his seriously ill mother.
“This will be a defining political moment,” said senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, reflecting party optimism about renewed momentum.
Political Context and Concerns
The homecoming comes amid a fragile transition overseen by an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. With Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League barred from contesting the Feb. 12 vote, the BNP appears well positioned to dominate the race. Observers, however, warn that sporadic violence and recent attacks on media outlets raise questions about the state’s ability to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
The National Citizen Party (NCP), which grew out of the youth protest movement that helped unseat Hasina, publicly welcomed Rahman’s return. NCP spokesperson Khan Muhammad Mursalin said Rahman’s homecoming carries symbolic weight and could galvanise supporters as the country moves toward a critical electoral test.
Outlook: Rahman’s return is likely to reshape the immediate political contest in Bangladesh and test the interim administration’s capacity to manage a large-scale, highly charged transition to parliamentary elections.
