In a dramatic political homecoming, Tarique Rahman—the exiled leader poised to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister—has returned to his homeland after 17 years in London. The 60-year-old scion of the influential Zia political dynasty arrived to massive crowds of supporters in Dhaka, marking a seismic shift in the nation’s political landscape ahead of watershed general elections.
Rahman’s return follows the spectacular downfall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose government was ousted last year amid allegations of severe human rights violations. While Hasina’s Awami League party dominated Bangladeshi politics for nearly two decades, Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) now stands as the frontrunner to secure power in the upcoming polls.
The political transition carries profound historical significance. During Hasina’s tenure, Rahman faced multiple criminal investigations that he characterized as politically motivated persecution. All charges against him were dropped following the regime change, clearing his path to leadership. Meanwhile, Hasina herself now lives in exile in India after being tried in absentia and receiving a death sentence for her government’s lethal crackdown on student-led protests—a period that UN investigators say claimed up to 1,400 lives.
With the Awami League likely barred from participation, the upcoming elections represent what many observers consider the most consequential democratic exercise in Bangladesh’s modern history. Rahman’s return from exile symbolizes not just a personal homecoming but potentially the dawn of a new political era for the South Asian nation.