Tarique Rahman, the long-exiled acting chairman of Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is finally heading back home after roughly 17 years in London. He’s scheduled to land in Dhaka on December 25, just ahead of the February 12, 2026 national election. His return isn’t just personal — it’s political dynamite for a country whose political scene has been shaken by massive protests, the fall of the Awami League government, and shifting alliances.
Rahman is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and is widely seen as her political heir and chief strategist for BNP. Party leaders believe his presence on the ground could kick-start their campaign and mobilise supporters at a time when BNP is poised as the main contender with the Awami League out of the race due to legal and political complications. That positioning has turned the BNP into the default frontrunner in what many expect to be a closely watched election.
There’s a backdrop of tension though. Bangladesh’s interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has promised cooperation and no legal barriers to Tarique’s return, saying he can come home whenever he chooses, and has even offered to issue a one-time travel pass if needed. Security concerns and political volatility remain very real, with worry over election violence and unstable law-and-order. BNP has prepared extravagantly for his arrival, with special trains laid on for supporters and party offices readied to host him.