Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh After 17 Years in Exile, Poised for Power

A seismic shift in Bangladesh's political landscape is underway. Tarique Rahman, the front-runner to be the country's next prime minister, has returned home after 17 years in exile. His arrival ahead of landmark general elections in the new year sets the stage for a dramatic political contest.

A Return Met with Rallies

Rahman, 60, is the figurehead of the influential Zia family and the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. According to the BBC, he has lived in London since 2008. It's expected he will become the country's new leader if his party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), emerges victorious. Reuters reports that BNP supporters have been gathering in Dhaka to welcome him.

Reversal of Fortunes in a Power Vacuum

Rahman's return comes in the wake of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being ousted last year. The various criminal investigations launched against Rahman while her Awami League party was in power have all been cleared following her regime's fall.

Conversely, Hasina, who now lives in exile in India, was sentenced to death in absentia last month for her role in suppressing anti-government protests. According to UN investigators, up to 1,400 people died in the student-led unrest. Hasina has denied committing crimes against humanity.