Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh After 17 Years, Setting Stage for Political Showdown

A 17-year exile has ended, and a political firestorm is brewing. Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of Bangladesh's main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has returned to the country, in a move that's seen as a direct challenge to the long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and is expected to throw the nation's politics into turmoil.

A Long Exile Marked by Convictions

The scion of a political dynasty—son of former president Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia—Tarique Rahman has been living in London since 2008. He left Bangladesh after being arrested on multiple corruption charges during the 2007-2008 military-backed caretaker government. In the years since, he's been convicted in absentia in several cases, including corruption and charges related to a 2004 grenade attack, charges his party says are politically motivated.

A Polarizing Return

For BNP supporters, Rahman's return is a moment of revitalization. It's expected to galvanize the opposition, which has been struggling for direction under the sustained pressure of the ruling Awami League government. However, the government's stance is clear: it views Rahman as a convicted fugitive. Officials have previously stated that he would be arrested upon arrival to face justice, setting the stage for a potential confrontation that could spill onto the streets.