The axes of Bangladeshi politics have shifted dramatically. Where do the political parties line up in the new dynamic?
Tarique Rahman’s return is undeniably historic. But history alone does not guarantee success. The comparison with 1972 is not about personalities -- it is about the structural burden placed on returning leaders in moments of national uncertainty.
That Bangladesh did not turn into a hardcore right-wing country is because of Tarique. The country continues to progress as a centrist, tolerant nation. For this, we should forever remain indebted to him.
Tarique returns to Bangladesh as the indispensable man of Bangladeshi politics, the fulcrum of its democratic transition, the lynchpin of its liberal politics, and the prime minister in waiting.
He will be judged relentlessly -- by the standards set by his parents, both as leaders and as human beings. This is not merely the end of a prolonged absence abroad; it marks the closure of a painful chapter shaped more by political banishment than personal choice.
Khaleda Zia’s mixed record of democratic contribution, confrontation-driven politics and unresolved party succession continues to influence the country’s search for renewed leadership
Bangladesh’s post-Hasina politics is marked by a fierce contest between old elites and rising aspirants vying to fill newly opened power spaces. This debate is simply one front in this broader elite struggle reshaping the country’s political future.
If Tarique wishes to be prime minister and lead this nation, as his mother and father did before him, then a time comes when he needs to step up and stand up, and show the nation that he too is made of the stuff of leaders. This is such a time.
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.
November 20, 2025 was Tarique Rahman's 60th birthday. With elections around the corner, and the country on the cusp of transformative change, here is a well-wisher's wish-list of what he would like to see from the BNP and its leader after the February polls.
Not the overthrow of dictators, but the revolution of humility, compassion, and forgiveness. A lesson Bangladesh has never practiced, but one leader showed us how it is done.
His BBC interview does not announce a new manifesto; it announces a new temperament. It marks the return not merely of a politician but of a political tone long missing in Bangladesh -- calm, composed, and confident in the people’s intelligence
His prolonged stay in the UK is now the defining issue for the country’s opposition politics. His potential return could reshape public perception, reinvigorate the BNP, and alter the national political equilibrium.
The BNP has an opportunity now to define itself and set the direction of the country for years to come. But it must present itself as the party of the ordinary Bangladeshi, and especially those from 35-60 who will shape the country's immediate future.
What can those who hope to rule Bangladesh post-elections learn from recent events in Nepal, and what are the twin threats that it will need to face down?
