Who is Tarique Rahman? From 17 years in exile to Bangladesh’s next leader

DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Tarique Rahman, 60, is set to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) surged to a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections.

He is completing a political comeback that few in the country’s turbulent politics thought possible.

For nearly two decades, Rahman lived in self-imposed exile in London, facing convictions in absentia and watching his party weaken under the long rule of Sheikh Hasina. His return to Dhaka in December 2025, after being cleared of all charges, marked one of the most dramatic reversals in Bangladesh’s political history.

Now, less than two months after stepping back onto home soil, the son of a former president and a former prime minister is poised to lead the nation his family once dominated.

Born into power and conflict

Rahman was born on Nov. 20, 1965, in Dhaka, the eldest son of Ziaur Rahman, the army officer who later became president and founded the BNP, and Khaleda Zia, who went on to become Bangladesh’s first female prime minister.

His early life was shaped by violence and upheaval. He witnessed his father’s rise to power and assassination in 1981, followed by his mother’s ascent to national leadership a decade later.

He studied at BAF Shaheen College and enrolled at the University of Dhaka, but left before completing his degree, turning instead to business interests in textiles and shipping.

Rahman formally entered politics in 1988, building his base in the northern district of Bogra. His influence grew rapidly during the BNP government of 2001-2006, when he served as senior joint secretary general.

Observers accused him of running a parallel power structure from the party’s Hawa Bhaban office. The period was marked by widespread corruption allegations, and Bangladesh was ranked the world’s most corrupt country for four straight years by Transparency International.

Rahman became the target of several high-profile investigations, including a scandal involving thousands of electricity poles that were allegedly purchased at inflated prices but never connected to the grid.

In 2007, a military-backed caretaker government arrested him on dozens of charges, including embezzlement, money laundering and involvement in a 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally.

He spent 18 months in prison and later said torture left him with chronic spinal problems.

Released on medical grounds in 2008, he left for London and submitted a handwritten resignation from politics at the airport.

Years in exile

Rahman spent nearly 17 years in London with his wife, cardiologist Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima, a lawyer. Associates say the long exile softened his political style and outlook.

During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, he was convicted in absentia in several cases, including receiving a life sentence over the 2004 grenade attack. He consistently described the charges as politically motivated.

From abroad, he watched the BNP weaken as leaders were jailed, party offices shut down, and activists harassed. When his mother was imprisoned in 2018, he became the acting chairman of the party, directing its affairs through video links from London.

The political landscape shifted dramatically after a student-led uprising in August 2024 forced Hasina from power. Courts later overturned Rahman’s convictions, clearing the way for his return.

On Dec. 25, 2025, he arrived in Dhaka to a massive reception from supporters. Within days, however, his mother died, turning a triumphant homecoming into a period of mourning.

On Jan. 9, 2026, Rahman formally assumed the BNP chairmanship and launched an intense campaign, touring 26 districts in 20 days and addressing more than 30 rallies.

Campaign message and policy agenda

Rahman campaigned on restoring democratic institutions and easing economic hardship. His platform centered on five key initiatives:

1. A monthly “family card” payment for poor households
2. A “farmer card” linking growers to state services
3. A national health card system and recruitment of 100,000 health workers
4. Youth employment and skills programs
5. Anti-corruption measures and stronger law enforcement

He also promised to diversify the economy beyond garment exports, introduce international payment platforms, and impose a two-term, 10-year limit for prime ministers.

Rahman has signaled a more balanced foreign policy, aiming to attract investment without leaning too heavily toward any one power.

Analysts say he will have to manage sensitive ties with India, whose support for the previous government has fueled public resentment.

He also faces major domestic challenges, including inflation, unemployment, climate pressures, and the implementation of a reform charter designed to prevent future authoritarian rule. 

Relations with Jamaat-e-Islami, now a strong opposition force, will also test his political skill.

His close confidants say Rahman’s years in exile have transformed him. The combative figure of the early 2000s has been replaced, they say, by a quieter, more measured leader who speaks of reconciliation and institutional rebuilding.

As the election results are finalized, Rahman stands on the brink of a political destiny shaped by legacy, exile, and comeback. For supporters, he represents democratic restoration. For critics, his return raises old concerns.

Either way, his ascent marks a turning point in Bangladesh’s long and often turbulent political journey.