Tarique Rahman To Return To Dhaka After 15 Years In Exile, Signals Bangladesh Poll Push

Last Updated:December 24, 2025, 19:38 IST

According to intelligence inputs accessed by CNN-News18, Tarique Rahman’s arrival carries a heightened risk of large-scale street mobilisation.

Tarique Rahman is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh ist Party.

Bangladesh ist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman is set to return to Dhaka, ending nearly 15 years in exile, in a move that signals Bangladesh is heading firmly towards national elections expected in February, sources told CNN-News18.

Tarique Rahman’s return is expected to mark his formal takeover of the BNP’s election campaign, with party cadres across the country instructed to mobilise ahead of his arrival. Sources said the party has asked its workers to be on high alert and take charge of the situation in key urban centres, particularly Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet- traditional BNP strongholds that are critical for voter turnout.

According to intelligence inputs accessed by CNN-News18, Tarique Rahman’s arrival carries a heightened risk of large-scale street mobilisation, including counter-protests and possible violence. Agencies have flagged the potential involvement of fringe Islamist groups seeking visibility during the high-profile political moment.

Who Is Tarique Rahman?

Tarique Rahman is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh ist Party and the eldest son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Seen as the principal political heir of the BNP’s founding family, Tarique Rahman has been running party affairs from abroad since leaving Bangladesh around 15 years ago amid a series of legal cases.

Despite his absence, he has remained the party’s central decision-maker, shaping strategy and alliances. His physical return is being viewed within the BNP as a turning point, particularly with elections drawing closer and the party seeking to project organisational strength on the ground.

What’s Happening In Bangladesh?

Bangladesh has been witnessing rising political tension in recent months, with protests, counter-protests and concerns over law and order ahead of the expected February polls. Tarique Rahman’s return is widely seen as confirmation that the election timeline is now set in motion.

Once back in Dhaka, Tarique Rahman is also expected to face internal challenges, particularly around strengthening the party’s finances, which have weakened over the years. Sources said his leadership may reassess the BNP’s political strategy, including its relationship with Jamaat-e-Islami and other hardline allies, a move that could reshape the opposition’s electoral pitch.

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