Tarique Rahman’s political acumen elevates him to unique height

Since February 8, 2018, when BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was imprisoned, Tarique Rahman has been leading the party as its Acting Chairman. Despite being barred from returning to the country, speaking publicly, or having his speeches aired due to court restrictions, he has continued to move forward. His unwavering resolve has dealt a significant blow to his persecutors. He has played a pivotal role in stabilizing the post-2024 uprising political scenario. While many feared that, as a victim of persecution, he might turn vengeful or aggressive, the reality proved otherwise. He consistently called for calm.

Despite relentless propaganda from the previous government, routine slanders and mockery from the disgraced prime minister and several ministers, Tarique Rahman never responded in kind. He worked quietly and resolutely, which only strengthened his position. He pulled his party back from the brink and became a constant companion to grassroots activists.

In the past fifteen and a half years, millions of BNP leaders and activists have faced lawsuits. Over 500 have disappeared, and many have been killed. Countless others have been permanently disabled. Numerous BNP supporters have lost their livelihoods, businesses, and homes. Families have been left destitute after losing their sole breadwinners. Tarique Rahman has built a bridge with each of these families, staying in regular contact with them. Following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, he navigated his party through the ensuing chaos with firm directives.

According to a report by The Week magazine, despite the ruling Awami League’s repeated efforts to split BNP, the party has remained united under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, further increasing his popularity. The report also stated that the political shift in Bangladesh presents Tarique Rahman with a significant opportunity.

This shift could indeed be a critical moment for Tarique Rahman. On March 7, 2007, during the 1/11 regime, he was arrested and brutally tortured, tarnishing his image through relentless defamation. After spending 18 months in prison, he was released on bail and left for the UK on September 11, 2008, for medical treatment, where he remains to this day. From exile, he has continued to lead his party. Repeated attempts by the fallen autocracy to fragment the BNP have failed, making the party even more resilient and organized. What he has lost over this long period can never be reclaimed.

Meanwhile, his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, has also endured persecution simply for being his spouse. A brilliant student of medical science in Bangladesh, Dr. Zubaida had an academic record many envied. Yet, she was dismissed from her job and dragged into lawsuits. Even during such adversity, Tarique Rahman has remained unwavering. His exile in London has made him unstoppable. Though mainstream media in Bangladesh cannot broadcast his speeches, modern technology—video conferencing and social media—has amplified his presence across the country. His leadership has fostered unity among the party's ranks.

According to The Week, Tarique Rahman is following in the footsteps of his mother, Khaleda Zia. Following the fall of the Awami League government, BNP has emerged as the country’s largest political force.

There is intense anticipation around Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh. He has been addressing party members virtually, but his true political journey will come full circle when he sets foot in Dhaka. Khaleda Zia hopes he will lead the party in the upcoming national election. Tarique Rahman has already outlined a comprehensive plan—ensuring equal opportunities, fair wages, and a corruption-free democratic system for all, including professionals, farmers, and laborers. He envisions a politics based on knowledge and development, and efforts are underway to realize that vision. The real test now is whether he can lead Bangladesh with the skill and vision that the moment demands.

The military-backed government of the 1/11 era had forced Tarique Rahman into exile, a trajectory continued by Sheikh Hasina’s administration. He was coerced into signing a written statement promising to quit politics—an egregious violation of his political rights. Since then, he has faced numerous legal and political challenges.

At the BNP’s 5th national council in 2009, Tarique Rahman was elected Senior Vice Chairman, and re-elected in 2016. Since Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, he has been serving as the Acting Chairman. Conquering one crisis after another, he now braces for perhaps the toughest test yet—the upcoming election. He warned the party of this challenge long ago, though not all comprehended the message at the time.

Despite aggressive smear campaigns and unwarranted criticisms, Tarique Rahman remains a resilient leader. For 17 to 18 years, he has been at the helm of BNP. From distant Britain, he has thwarted many attempts to dismantle the party. He now enforces strict disciplinary actions—expulsions, demotions, suspensions, and show-cause notices—to maintain party integrity. He urges his supporters to avoid actions that alienate the public and repeatedly calls for learning from the Awami League’s decline.

Over the past two decades, he has faced countless challenges. This endurance is perhaps why Sheikh Hasina could never tolerate him, even attacking him with vulgar and personal insults. Yet, Tarique Rahman has never responded to those obscenities.

With the Awami League now politically irrelevant, BNP is recognized as the country’s largest party, even by the interim government. In electoral politics, it's hard to predict voters’ intentions. The vote percentages from 2008 are no longer applicable in today’s context. The electoral landscape has shifted significantly. While it's premature to forecast the exact vote share in the next election, many believe that BNP is poised to win a majority. Whether it secures a two-thirds majority remains uncertain, especially considering that political, economic, and international developments could still influence public opinion. Nevertheless, current trends suggest that BNP is the frontrunner.

After President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated on May 30, 1981, his widow, Khaleda Zia—then an ordinary housewife—took charge of BNP. Remarkably, she not only held the party together but expanded its influence. Few expected the relatively inexperienced BNP to defeat the historic and established Awami League in the 1991 election—but they did.

Ziaur Rahman was a leader shaped by the needs of his time. After coming to power, he tuned into the people's pulse. That was reflected in the inclusion of “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim” in the Constitution's preamble. Through the Fifth Amendment, he replaced socialism with social justice and secularism with unwavering faith in Almighty Allah.

Zia prioritized fraternal relations with the Muslim Ummah over India-centric foreign policy. He maintained sovereign equality with global powers like China, Russia, the US, and India—favoring none. In terms of nationalism, he combined Bengali identity with Islamic values. His governance was a balance of idealism and pragmatism—keys to his unprecedented success.

Begum Khaleda Zia upheld these ideals with dedication. Now, the discussions and planning surrounding Tarique Rahman signal a new perspective for Bangladesh. As the son of a former prime minister and BNP’s Senior Vice Chairman, his political skill, strategic thinking, and forward-looking vision have indeed positioned him at a distinctive height in Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Raihan Ahmed Topadar is a researcher and columnist.