New Delhi, January 7: In a pointed critique, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has dismissed the return of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman after 17 years in exile as anything but a positive shift. Speaking exclusively to IANS, Hasina warned that his homecoming could deepen political divisions rather than foster reform.
‘Tarique Rahman’s return isn’t a new beginning or improvement; it’s a throwback to the politics Bangladesh has already paid dearly for,’ Hasina stated firmly. The daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman highlighted how Rahman spent years abroad in comfort, detached from the struggles of ordinary Bangladeshis, all while evading accountability for alleged corruption and abuse of power during his mother Khaleda Zia’s regime.
Tarique, often called the ‘Dark Prince,’ son of former President Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, faces accusations from Hasina’s government of running a parallel power center and engaging in graft. Yet, with Bangladesh grappling with escalating violence and the erosion of law amid rising extremism, all eyes are on him. The BNP’s absence from recent elections adds to the intrigue.
Hasina expressed alarm over reports of BNP activists intimidating Awami League supporters and ordinary citizens, threatening violence to coerce votes. ‘We’ve seen a disturbing wave of intimidation in recent months,’ she noted. As Rahman positions himself as a defender of Bangladesh’s sovereignty—especially amid strained India-Bangladesh ties under Khaleda—debates rage over the future of bilateral relations and the upcoming polls.
Surveys even place Rahman ahead in the race for prime minister, but Hasina remains skeptical. ‘Bangladesh’s future can’t be built on a legacy of corruption, violence, and alliances with extremists,’ she asserted. His presence, she argued, risks widening the chasm of polarization instead of promoting accountable, transparent leadership rooted in genuine public engagement.
With New Delhi watching closely, Rahman’s return signals turbulent times ahead for Bangladesh’s fragile democracy. Hasina’s words serve as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in the nation’s political rebirth.