What’s next for Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman after her death: Can he become Bangladesh’s next prime minister?

What’s next for Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman after her death

• Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female PM, died at age 80 after illness
• Tarique Rahman returned from exile, filed for 2026 elections.
• Rahman's return is crucial for BNP before Bangladesh's general elections.

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Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s former first female prime minister and long-time chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. She died at 6 a.m. at Dhaka’s Apollo Hospital, according to A.K.M. Wahiduzzaman, BNP’s ICT Affairs Secretary and head of its Online Activists Network.

Zia passed away as her son, Tarique Rahman, returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile. He has also taken a significant step into electoral politics by filing candidacy papers for the upcoming general elections from Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was founded on September 1, 1978, by Ziaur Rahman. After Zia’s assassination on May 30, 1981, Abdus Sattar took over as head of the party. In 1984, Khaleda Zia became the party’s chairperson. In 2009, Tarique Rahman was unanimously elected as Senior Vice-Chairman of the BNP and later, in 2018, assumed the role of Acting Chairman in the absence of Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Following the passing of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman stepping into the electoral arena, the future of the BNP, Rahman’s political journey, and Bangladesh’s political landscape take center stage.

His return ahead of the February 12, 2026, elections carries added significance, coming amid a charged atmosphere marked by violent protests after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key youth movement leader instrumental in the ousting of Sheikh Hasina.

Let’s take a closer look at what lies ahead for Tarique Rahman following the passing of his mother, the three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Tarique Rahman made a symbolic return to Bangladesh, landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka with his wife Zubaida and daughter Zaima, stepping barefoot onto Bangladeshi soil under tight security. Thousands of BNP workers and supporters had gathered to welcome him.

Rahman has formally entered electoral politics by filing candidacy papers for the upcoming general elections from two key constituencies: Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6.

Bogra-6: A BNP Stronghold

Bogra-6 carries strong symbolic value for the BNP. Historically considered a bastion of Khaleda Zia, the seat was won by Awami League leader Ragebul Ahsan Ripu in the 2023 by-elections, making Rahman’s candidacy a statement of reclaiming BNP influence in the region.

Dhaka-17: High-Profile Contest

Dhaka-17 was previously represented by senior Awami League leader Mohammad A. Arafat, who served as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting under Sheikh Hasina.

Arafat, a vocal critic of the BNP-Jamaat alliance, lost both his parliamentary seat and ministerial post following Hasina’s ouster. In August 2024, Bangladesh’s Financial Intelligence Unit ordered banks to freeze the accounts of Arafat and his wife. Since then, multiple legal cases have been filed against him, including those linked to violent protests that led to fatalities.

By contesting these two constituencies, Rahman is taking on strategically significant battles, signaling the BNP’s intent to reassert its political strength.

Can he become the next Bangladesh PM?

Tarique Rahman’s homecoming after 17 years in exile is being widely seen by experts as a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political landscape, particularly in the post-Yunus era.

Rahman even invoked Martin Luther King Jr., quoting from the civil rights activist’s iconic speech, "I have a plan" for Bangladesh.

South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman described Rahman’s return as “one of Bangladesh’s biggest political moments in years.” Speaking on X, he said, "Tarique Rahman, possibly Bangladesh’s next prime minister, has returned home after 17 years in exile. His return marks one of Bangladesh’s biggest political moments in years. It’s also a test of his ability to reconnect w/his base & navigate the powder keg that is BD politics."

Kugelman added that the BNP, which had appeared politically sidelined for years, is now poised for a comeback, "But there are often second chances in politics. The BNP, left for dead at the end of the Hasina era, is poised to return to power. One signpost to watch: Will Rahman signal a readiness to end the retributive politics that have been so destabilizing for BD? Color me skeptical."

Kugelman cautioned, however, that Rahman faces significant challenges: "Tarique Rahman’s speech today called for unity, invoked MLK Jr, and essentially said all the right things. But that will be a hard sell, given deep divisions within Bangladesh’s politics, and within his own party, and given the BNP’s poor record on rights and democracy when in power."

Former US diplomat Jon Danilowicz told Al Jazeera that Rahman’s return completes a crucial puzzle in Bangladesh’s preparations for upcoming elections. He noted that the BNP’s resilience over the past 17 years positions the party strongly, adding, “The elections will only be BNP's to lose.”

Analysts also highlighted Rahman’s messaging during his return. Kugelman observed that the BNP leader adopted a softer tone, ticking key boxes at a time when Bangladesh remains politically volatile.

Rahman’s return comes as the political landscape of Bangladesh has been profoundly altered. The Hasina-led Awami League was disbanded by the Muhammad Yunus–led interim government following her ouster and subsequent flight to India last year, leaving the party barred from contesting elections. At the same time, a new student-led political outfit, the National Citizen Party (NCP), emerged from the July 2024 protests and gained registration from the Bangladesh Election Commission.

Tarique Rahman’s leadership is expected to shape the BNP’s strategy amid a potentially challenging electoral contest, including a possible alliance between the pro-Pakistan Jamaat and the NCP.

Speaking to BBC Bangla in October, he stressed accountability, "Those responsible for atrocities during the Hasina years must be punished. This is not about vengeance. I strongly believe people cannot support a political party or its activists who murder, forcibly disappear people, or launder money."

Rahman’s return has rekindled hopes among BNP supporters and is being closely watched as a defining moment in the lead-up to Bangladesh’s February 12, 2026, general elections.