Bangladesh PM Frontrunner Tarique Rahman Returns Home After 17 Years in Exile

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and a leading contender for prime minister, has returned to Bangladesh after more than 17 years in exile, receiving a jubilant welcome from supporters. His return follows the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and comes ahead of the February 12, 2026 general election, with legal obstacles to his return cleared after his earlier convictions were overturned.

A prominent political figure widely regarded as a frontrunner to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister returned to the country on Thursday, receiving an enthusiastic welcome from supporters after spending more than 17 years in self-imposed exile.
Tarique Rahman arrived in the capital, Dhaka, alongside his wife and daughter amid tight security measures. His return triggered scenes of celebration, with thousands of supporters lining the streets from the airport to a designated reception venue. Many waved party flags, chanted slogans, and gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader as he made his way through the city.
Shortly after his arrival, Rahman, who serves as the acting chairman of the BNP, shared his emotions on social media. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “Finally here in Sylhet, on the soil of Bangladesh!” — a message that quickly circulated among supporters and party loyalists.
Rahman’s return comes at a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political history. Last year, a student-led uprising forced long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina out of power, ending her rule and dramatically reshaping the country’s political landscape. Since August 2024, Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, tasked with stabilizing the nation and overseeing a transition to democratic elections.
The country’s next general election has been scheduled for February 12, 2026, and Rahman’s return is widely seen as a significant development ahead of the polls, potentially strengthening the BNP’s position as it prepares to challenge for power.
Tarique Rahman, 60, is the eldest son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and late former President Ziaur Rahman, the founder of the BNP. Ziaur Rahman was assassinated during a military coup in 1981, a turning point that eventually propelled Khaleda Zia into national politics. She first became prime minister in 1991 and went on to serve multiple terms, becoming one of the most influential figures in Bangladesh’s modern political history.
Rahman assumed the role of acting chairman of the BNP in 2018 following his mother’s imprisonment. A decade earlier, in 2008, he had traveled to London for medical treatment and remained there for years as he faced multiple criminal cases in Bangladesh. During that period, he was convicted in absentia on several charges, including a case linked to an alleged plot to assassinate Sheikh Hasina.
Those convictions were overturned after Hasina was removed from power last year, effectively clearing the legal hurdles that had prevented Rahman from returning home. With the cases dismissed, he was able to travel back to Bangladesh for the first time in nearly two decades.
Beyond its political significance, Rahman’s homecoming also carries deep personal importance. His mother, Khaleda Zia, has been critically ill for several months, and he was expected to meet her later following his arrival, marking a long-awaited family reunion after years of separation.