Tarique Rahman says Bangladesh has ‘no reason’ to return to pre-August 5 politics as he takes charge of BNP

Tarique Rahman

• Tarique Rahman named BNP chairman ahead of Bangladesh's February 12 elections
• Rahman vows to uphold democracy, accountability, and reform if BNP wins power
• BNP seen as frontrunner after Hasina's removal and Awami League's disbandment

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Just weeks before Bangladesh heads into general elections on February 12, Tarique Rahman has taken over as chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, stepping into the role after the death of his mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The BNP’s Standing Committee cleared his appointment at a meeting on Friday, formally handing him charge of the party that is now seen as a frontrunner in the post-Sheikh Hasina political landscape.

Rahman, 60, assumed the post days after Zia passed away on December 30 following a prolonged illness, leaving vacant the party’s top position. The BNP later said the decision followed the party constitution and was taken unanimously.

“No reason” to return to the past

Hours after being appointed, Rahman met editors and senior journalists in Dhaka, where he made it clear that the country should not slide back to earlier political conditions. “We had problems in the past, and we still have problems. But, we don’t want to go back to the pre-August 5 days. There’s no reason for us to do that,” he said.

Referring to divisions within society and politics, Rahman struck a conciliatory note, adding, “Although we have various kinds of differences among us, we should be able to minimise them through dialogue.” He stressed that accountability and democratic practices must remain central if Bangladesh is to move forward.

Vision for governance and reform

Rahman said his party would guide the country “in the right direction” if elected to form the next government. He argued that sustaining democratic processes, even in the face of obstacles, was essential for long-term change.

“My personal belief is this -- if, at any cost, we can continue accountability and the democratic process, there may be many obstacles, and it may be very difficult. But if we can keep the democratic process going over a certain period of time, we will surely be able to bring change,” he said.

Outlining broad priorities, Rahman spoke of plans to transform public life with a focus on health, the economy, and governance, describing these as key aims of the BNP if it comes to power.

Drawing from historic movements

Invoking defining moments in the country’s history, Rahman linked his vision to past struggles. He said the ideals of the 1971 Liberation War, the 1990 mass movement against the military rule of HM Ershad, and the August 5 uprising should serve as guiding principles.

“If the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War, 1990 mass upheaval against then then-president HM Ershad regime, and the August 5 uprising could be kept in mind, I firmly believe, we will be able to guide the nation in the right direction,” he told the gathering.

However, he did not elaborate on the BNP’s position regarding evolving geopolitical challenges or the altered domestic environment ahead of next month’s polls.

Changed political landscape

The elections will take place in the shadow of dramatic political changes. Sheikh Hasina was removed from power after violent student-led protests during July and August 2024 and fled to India on August 5. Three days later, Muhammad Yunus assumed charge of an interim government, which disbanded Hasina’s Awami League through an executive order.

A special tribunal later sentenced Hasina to death on charges of committing “crimes against humanity” over what it described as “brutal” attempts to suppress the protests, known as the July Uprising. With Hasina and her party out of contention, the BNP is widely viewed as the leading force, with Jamaat-e-Islami emerging as its principal rival.

Long political journey

Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after 17 years of self-exile in London. His rise within the BNP spans decades: he became Senior Joint Secretary General in 2002, Senior Vice Chairman in 2009, and was named acting chairperson in 2018 when Khaleda Zia was jailed.

In his first public address after returning from the UK, Rahman hinted at ambition and resolve, saying, “I have a plan,” a line widely seen as echoing Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous words, “I have a dream.”