After 17 Years in Exile, Tarique Rahman Set to Become Bangladesh PM

VoM News Desk | February 13, 2026 | 03:42 PM IST | Breaking News, Politics, World | Follow on Google News

After 17 Years in Exile, Tarique Rahman Set to Become Bangladesh PM

Tarique Rahman is poised to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister after his party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), secured a decisive lead in the latest national elections. Rahman, 60, returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom and contested from Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies, winning both seats according to unofficial results.

He is the eldest son of former President Ziaur Rahman and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. After Khaleda Zia’s death, Rahman formally assumed office as Chairman of the BNP in December 2025, having earlier served as its acting chairman.

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Rahman was arrested in May 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government and spent 17 months in detention on multiple charges. He was later convicted in absentia, but those verdicts were overturned following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

Political Implications and International Reactions

Rahman’s victory marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, particularly after the suspension of the Awami League’s registration prevented it from contesting the polls. The BNP contested 292 of 300 seats and is projected to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rahman and the BNP, describing the outcome as a “decisive victory” and expressing hope for strengthening bilateral ties. The United States also extended congratulations, signaling readiness to work with the new government.

A key challenge for the incoming administration will be rebuilding relations with India, which had grown close to Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina but have become strained in recent months. Rahman has stated that future ties with New Delhi must be based on “mutual respect and understanding,” indicating a possible recalibration of regional diplomacy under a BNP-led government.

VoM News Desk

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