BNP’s Tarique Rahman to return for a historical vote

The man, who is inclined to be the next Bangladesh Prime Minister, has ended months of speculation, saying he will return from two decades abroad to fight the remarkable elections.

“Time has come, God wants, I’ll be back soon,” Tarik Rahman, acting chairman of the Nationalist Party in Bangladesh, told the post, told BBC Bangla in his first interview with a face in front of nearly 20 years.

BNP is the leader in the vote in February, and Rahman, the son of his sick leader, is expected to lead the country if he wins.

Many view it as one of the most recenties in Bangladesh’s history after mass protests dropped three-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Her Awami League party is unlikely to be allowed to participate.

According to the UN investigators, up to 1400 people died in the riots in 2024, which included a deadly repression of demonstrations led by students who have taken down Hasina.

Hasina, who escapes to India, is convicted of a defendant for crimes against humanity, which is said to have been committed during demonstrations.

Since she was downloaded, many have asked why Rahman is still in London, where he has lived since 2008.

“Maybe for some personal reasons, the return has not yet happened. But I think the time has come,” he said.

“This is the choices that people have been waiting for, I can’t stay away during this time.”

The AWAMI league greased BNP, its long -term rival and other opponents over 15 years of government. Rahman, who was convicted in many cases in absentia, was released from all the accusations after Hasina was removed.

The temporary government, led by Nobel laureate Prof. Mohammed Yunus, banned the Awami league from political activity, while the process against its leaders is over. Both Hasina and her party reject all accusations against them.

Although BNP has criticized the temporary government in the last year that it has not announced an election date, they seem to share similar views on the participation of Awami League.

“Those who ordered murder and torture, they must be tried,” said Tarik Rahman.

With the absence of his main rival, many speculates BNP will have a comfortable lead in the election -and if the party wins, the 58 -year -old Rahman is expected to be the next Prime Minister. His mother, former premiere Haleda Zia, who is 80 years old, is ill and is unlikely to take an active part in the campaign.

However, Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party, seemingly won a certain position in the last year. Her student wing won the majority in two elections for the Student Union for the first time for the first time, charging the party.

Rahman believes that the results of the Student Union will not matter to the general elections. Their share of votes in previous elections was much less than the two major parties.

Jamaat-E-Islami is now negotiating with some other Islamist political parties to form an alliance, but Rahman says he is not worried about this perspective.

“The BNP has encountered the competition in the election before. There is nothing to worry about,” he said.

In the early 2000, BNP and Jamaat formed a coalition government, but recently held independent paths.

Meanwhile, a new party, led by student leaders of the uprising, the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), failed to obtain great support in the student Union elections. For a party led by young people, the loss of their home raised questions about their perspectives in the national elections.

Relations with the largest neighbor in Bangladesh, India have been tense since Hasina found shelter in Delhi.

Bangladeshi courts have issued an arrest warrant, and Bangladesh sought his extradition. India is not yet officially reacted.

The relationship with India is a sensitive issue in Bangladeshi’s policy. The country shares the greater part of its land border with India. Political parties, including the GNP, have constantly criticized Delhi for his support for the Awami League, including the three controversial elections held during its reign.

“If they (India) want to defuse people from Bangladeshi by sheltering a dictator, then we have nothing to do about it,” Rahman said.

A central issue in the election will probably be the promise of democratic reform and freedom of expression. The Awami League government was widely criticized for suppressing disagreement, including a court order banning media from publishing Tariq Rahman speeches.

He told the BBC that he would guarantee that such restrictions are not repeated if he came to power.

The interim government is trying to build a consensus between political parties by a set of reforms, but progress is slow. For many Bangladii, in particular young people who lead last year’s uprising, guaranteeing fundamental freedoms will be a key test for the next government of the country.

The interview was conducted by BBC News Bangla Mir Sabbir and Qadir Kallol