Bangladesh’s leading opposition figure, Tarique Rahman, has returned to the country after nearly 17 years in exile, arriving in Dhaka amid heightened security and growing political unrest.
Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), landed in the capital on Thursday morning and was greeted by large crowds of supporters. Authorities imposed tight security measures as the country continues to grapple with violence and instability following months of political upheaval.
Addressing supporters, the 61-year-old called for unity across political, religious and social lines, urging cooperation to restore safety and stability in Bangladesh. His return comes at a critical moment as the nation prepares for long-delayed national elections.
Rahman comes from one of Bangladesh’s most prominent political families. His mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is currently receiving medical treatment in a Dhaka hospital, while his father, former president Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated during a military uprising in 1981. Tarique Rahman left Bangladesh in 2008 and has lived in London since then.
With elections now scheduled for February 12, Rahman is widely seen as a leading contender. The vote will be held under an interim administration that took power after the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, faced sustained pressure before finally setting an election date. Hasina’s Awami League has been barred from contesting the polls.
Rahman’s return follows a surge in unrest triggered by the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s uprising. His death earlier this month sparked nationwide protests demanding justice, alongside riots and attacks on media offices, including those of two major newspapers.
Tensions escalated further after a Hindu factory worker was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh, deepening diplomatic strains between Bangladesh and India. Violence has continued in Dhaka, where a bystander was killed this week when an explosive device was thrown from an overpass.
