BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, back in the country after spending nearly 17 years away, is optimistic about his party’s prospects in Thursday’s national election, according to an interview in Arab News.
His return follows a shift in the political landscape after the ouster of the former government, which had long been accused of suppressing the voting rights of his supporters.
Rahman moved to the UK in 2008, living with multiple legal convictions handed down during the tenure of his party’s long-time rival, ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who governed until her removal following mass protests in mid-2024.
Since his arrival in Dhaka late last December, which drew massive crowds, Tarique believes the public is ready to support the BNP at the ballot box.
“BNP is the most popular party in the country. We have been struggling for the people’s voting rights for more than 17 years. We represent the people’s expectations and aspirations,” he told Arab News in Dhaka on Tuesday.
“I believe the people will vote for us and, insh’allah, we will achieve a landslide victory.”
Tarique Rahman formally became BNP chairman just after the passing of former chairperson and BNP leader Khaleda Zia last year.
In this election, the BNP is competing against dozens of other political entities, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, which is projected to hold a significant position in the next parliament. The Awami League, once led by Hasina, has been barred from participating, following a period of deadly violence that prompted its removal from power.
A UN human rights report documented serious abuses by the previous administration during the protests that ultimately led to its collapse, with heavy casualties among demonstrators.
Tarique Rahman’s prospective government aims to pursue accountability for former leaders while fulfilling the hopes of the youth-led movement that reshaped the country’s political future. His early agenda includes restoring security, undertaking democratic reforms, and boosting the business climate.
“Our 180-day programme includes development plans across key sectors, including employment for 10 million people,” he said.
“We will also accelerate private sector growth, ensure employment-oriented economic recovery and develop the blue economy. We will focus heavily on the ICT sector and AI-driven technological innovation.”
In terms of foreign policy, he intends to focus on ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, particularly Saudi Arabia, where millions of Bangladeshis live and work. The kingdom has long been a key economic partner, a connection strengthened during his father’s presidency. Tarique said it would likely be among the first countries he visits if elected.
“The highest number of Bangladeshi migrant workers are employed in Saudi Arabia, and the remittances they send significantly contribute to our economy,” he said.
“I admire the Saudi Vision 2030, and I am sincerely looking forward to working with the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia … I would definitely like to visit Saudi Arabia early in my term. Personally, I also wish to visit the holy mosque, Al-Masjid Al-Haram, Makkah, to perform Umrah.”
Regarding broader foreign relations, including with India and Pakistan, Rahman emphasised that BNP’s approach will prioritise national interests. He said the party aims to maintain friendly ties with all nations, especially neighbours, based on respect and equality.
Bilateral dynamics with Pakistan, once strained for decades, have seen improvement since the previous regime’s departure. In contrast, relations with India – which granted asylum to Hasina – have cooled. In late 2024, a Bangladeshi court convicted her of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death.
The government also issued an extradition request.
“We want to establish justice in the country,” Tarique said. “No one is above the law. Anyone who has committed crimes must face trial. This is not about any specific political party; it is about justice and rule of law.”
Arab News goes on to say that, during Hasina’s rule, Tarique faced numerous corruption charges – accusations he has consistently rejected as baseless and politically driven.
“There were so many false charges filed against me, and the situation in the country was not stable in terms of law and order,” he said. “Despite all the odds – as I have committed and communicated to my countrymen and women – I have returned to my beloved Bangladesh before the historic national election and (I am) looking forward to it eagerly.”
