Zahid F. Sarder Saddi is a Bangladeshi politician in exile, humanitarian, and U.S.–Bangladesh relations expert, as well as an advocate for democracy and religious freedom. A former foreign advisor to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, he has testified before the U.S. Congress and worked with American policymakers and international institutions for over two decades to promote democracy, protect vulnerable communities, and combat extremism.
The real question is not why Tarique Rahman has not returned yet. The real question is whether the nation will stay focused on restoring democracy rather than chasing distractions.
And what lesson is there for Bangladesh about the culture of political violence and trying to find common ground instead of using bullets and brickbats to resolve our differences?
The tariff deal is a diplomatic win that signals a larger Indo-Pacific power shift, avoids economic fallout, and proves that while Trump’s tariffs worked, so did Dhaka’s relentless resolve to secure a better deal
