(Image source from: AP)
Tarique Rahman, who leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is heading towards a significant victory in the important national election that took place on Thursday. This win paves the way for the 60-year-old Rahman to become the next prime minister of Bangladesh. After spending 17 years away in the UK, he has returned and has been unofficially declared the winner in both the Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies, according to early results from the Election Commission and party sources, as reported by The Daily Star. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Rahman and the BNP on achieving a "decisive victory. " He expressed his warm congratulations to Tarique Rahman for leading the party to a significant win in Bangladesh's parliamentary elections in a message shared on X.
"This win reflects the people's faith in your leadership in Bangladesh. " PM Modi assured the new government that India will support "a democratic, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh. " He expressed eagerness to collaborate in strengthening their diverse relations and pushing forward their mutual development goals. The United States also shared its congratulations with Rahman on this "historic victory. " US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen mentioned on X, "Congratulations to the citizens of Bangladesh for a successful election, and to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman for your historic win. The United States looks forward to cooperating with you to achieve shared objectives of prosperity and security for our nations. "
The BNP was the leading party going into the elections, competing for 292 out of 300 seats while allowing smaller partners to take the remaining seats. The party faced off against a coalition of 11 parties led by Jamaat-e-Islami. Mahdi Amin, the BNP election committee spokesperson, informed the media that the party was on track to secure at least two-thirds of the seats, confirming that Tarique Rahman won in both constituencies he contested. Senior BNP official Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced a "sweeping victory" in a party statement, without providing specific numbers, and urged supporters to express gratitude through prayers on Friday instead of celebrating in the streets. Tarique Rahman, aged 60, is the oldest son of former President Ziaur Rahman and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He returned home after nearly 17 years in exile following his mother’s passing and quickly became a top candidate for the prime minister role, especially since the Awami League was unable to participate due to its registration being suspended.
Rahman became the head of the BNP after the passing of Khaleda Zia. Before this, he had been acting as the BNP's chairman. A few days after Khaleda Zia's death, in December 2025, Rahman officially took over as Chairman of the BNP. He is commonly referred to as the "dark prince. " He is believed to have been the real leader from 2001 to 2006, during a coalition government that included the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, when Khaleda Zia served as prime minister. At that time, Rahman operated from Hawa Bhaban, a two-story building known for its "wind tunnel," which was described as a "shadow PMO." The years from 2006 to 2008 were filled with serious civil disorder, as the BNP and Awami League fought over an election that was set to occur by the middle of November 2006. The unrest led to the establishment of a military 'caretaker' government, which reportedly restricted basic rights and even attempted to create a political alternative without Zia or Hasina. Following this, the 2008 election was conducted, resulting in a victory for the Awami League.
In May 2007, Rahman was arrested by the caretaker government and spent 17 months in jail on several charges. He was found guilty while he was not present in court for various offenses, including money laundering, as well as in a case related to a supposed plan to kill Hasina. These decisions were annulled after Hasina was removed from power in a student-led protest in August 2024. He later traveled to London for medical care after reportedly suffering from torture while in custody. One significant challenge for the new government will be repairing relations with India. During Sheikh Hasina's rule, India was Bangladesh's closest friend, but the relationship worsened after her government fell and has turned openly hostile in recent times. Rahman recognized that there were "issues" with India and expressed a desire for "a relationship of mutual respect, mutual understanding," as mentioned by The Guardian.
When asked if India and Bangladesh could restore their friendship while India continued to shelter Hasina and many of her party members, Rahman replied, "That depends. ""It needs to be on them too." One of the first challenges for the new BNP-led administration will be handling its relationship with India, which was closest to Bangladesh under Hasina but has recently soured.
