Is Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman being positioned as the BNP’s prime ministerial candidate?

Tarique return reshapes BNP succession debate

As Bangladesh grapples with political turmoil, attention has turned to a possible change at the top. The long-awaited return of Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, has reopened debate over whether the BNP is preparing him as its prime ministerial face.

Although senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders are maintaining official caution, the speculation has moved beyond private discussions in drawing rooms, party offices and WhatsApp groups. It has now become an open and active political debate.

Sources within the BNP acknowledge that “certain possibilities” are under discussion, but stress that the ultimate decision lies with party chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Despite her fragile health, party insiders say Khaleda Zia has continued to closely follow political developments and remains firmly in command of strategic decisions, as she was even before her hospitalisation.

Tarique Rahman’s return after nearly two decades comes amid intense political upheaval. With the Awami League facing a ban, Sheikh Hasina in political exile and attempting to steer a campaign from abroad, and the party’s organisational structure largely dismantled, the opposition believes a rare opportunity has emerged. For the BNP, this moment represents more than an election—it is a potential return to power after nearly 15 years in opposition.

Within the party, some believe projecting a familiar name could ensure continuity, emotional resonance and organisational unity. Others, however, warn it could reignite concerns over dynastic politics, particularly when Bangladesh’s electorate—especially younger voters—has been demanding institutional credibility rather than political lineage.

A senior BNP leader told News18 that the party is preparing for “multiple political scenarios”, including the possibility of a broad-based alliance. In that equation, Jamaat-e-Islami could become a key player. With the Awami League effectively sidelined, Jamaat’s organisational strength and street-level presence may be decisive in several constituencies, said another source who requested anonymity.

“Yet this alignment carries risks. While it may consolidate votes, it could also sharpen ideological fault lines and invite international scrutiny, particularly at a time when Bangladesh’s democratic transition is under close global observation,” he added.

BNP leaders also recognise that returning to power alone will not be sufficient. “The next government, if led by the BNP, will also inherit a fractured polity, an economy under strain, and an electorate deeply sceptical of political promises. Whether Tarique Rahman can convincingly represent renewal rather than restoration remains an open question. We will have to restructure and recalibrate everything, starting from our global foreign policy to the neighbour policies, including the one we have with India,” he said.

For now, the party is opting for ambiguity rather than a formal declaration. But in Bangladesh’s rapidly evolving political environment, silence itself sends a message. As Tarique Rahman returns to home soil, the question is no longer whether the BNP will seek power again—but under whose leadership it will do so.