Tarique Rahman’s political journey mirrorsBangladesh’sturbulent history: dynasty, downfall, distance, and return. For more than a decade, Tarique Rahman was a political ghost — present in rhetoric, absent in person. From London, where he lived in self-imposed exile for 17 long years, he watched Bangladesh’s politics and his party, theBangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP), fractured, weakened, and often dismissed as relic opposition. However, the 13th parliamentary election, held on February 12, the first sinceSheikh Hasina's ouster, has changed the equation. Tarique Rahman has successively led his party to a decisive victory. The BNP had earlier announced that if it wins the election, then its chairman and former premier Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, would be the next prime minister of Bangladesh. If the BNP doesn't switch to 'Plan B' and picks Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to lead the government, in case of any legal barrier, Tarique Rahman will be Bangladesh's first male prime minister in 35 years.

When Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman in December last year, he briefly stood barefoot on the grass outside Shahjalal International Airport and picked up a handful of soil, signalling his connection with the land and that had finally got himself the political launch that he was denied earlier. Two months later, he looks like a natural choice for the BNP to lead Bangladesh.

While Rahman had witnessed both his parents - President late Ziaur Rahman and three-time Prime Minister late Khaleda Zia- lead the nation, his formal political journey began in 2002 when the BNP appointed him as the first joint secretary. However, in 2009, Rahman moved to London for treatment following alleged torture in custody. From London, Rahman would regularly engage with the works of BNP and used to address the party workers and the followers through video link.

During his mother's tenure, Rahman was often referred to as 'Dark Prince', and was believed to be the de facto boss. Many claimed that he ran a "shadow PMO" out of Hawa Bhaban. With Khaleda Zia's deteriorating health, Rahman's position became clearer within the BNP.

Bangladesh's politics is known for the constant battle between the 'Begums' for power. However, since his return, Tarique Rahman has tried to ‌project himself as a statesman ready to look beyond his family's difficulties under Hasina. Gone is the image of a ‌brash operator from the BNP’s 2001–2006 era. Rahman has adopted a noticeably understated style, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and calling instead for restraint and reconciliation. This was evident in his recent speeches, where he was heard saying, "What does revenge bring to someone? ‌People have to flee from this country because of revenge. This does not bring anything good. What we need at the moment in the country is peace and stability."

Rahman emphasised restoring “people’s ownership of the state” and rebuilding institutions. The message energised BNP supporters eager for a fresh start. Inside the BNP, Rahman's grip on the party was strong and with Zia's demise, it grew firm. Party insiders said he directly oversaw candidate selection, strategy and alliance talks, roles he once performed remotely.

Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic ouster after months of escalating student unrest in August 2024 did not just end a political era, but tore open a vacuum for its rival to fill. The last three elections - 2014, 2018 and 2024 - under Hasina’s administration were controversial as they were widely believed to be rigged in Awami League's favour or were boycotted by her major opponents.

The fall of the Awami League government did not immediately guarantee the resurgence of BNP, which has struggled with legal cases against its senior leadership and diminishing street presence for years. The public frustration over economic conditions and governance concerns created space for an alternative narrative and paved the way for the return of Hasina's rival. Furthermore, with the Awami League being banned by the interim government-led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, the BNP became the natural choice for the many traditional Hasina voters, according to surveys.

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