Prime Minister returns from exile
Tarique Rahman: From 17 Years in Exile to the Prime Minister’s Office
After nearly two decades away from home, Tarique Rahman has returned to Bangladesh and risen to the country’s highest elected office. His journey from political exile in London to becoming prime minister marks one of the most dramatic comebacks in South Asian politics in recent memory.
Tarique Rahman was born on November 20, 1967, into one of Bangladesh’s most influential political families. He is the eldest son of Ziaur Rahman, a former army chief who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 and later became president of Bangladesh. After Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in a 1981 military coup, Tarique’s mother, Khaleda Zia, took over party leadership and went on to serve three terms as prime minister.
Growing up in Dhaka, Tarique attended BAF Shaheen College before enrolling in the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka. Although he did not complete his degree, he gradually became active in politics, especially during the anti-authoritarian movements of the 1980s against military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad. By 1988, at age 22, he formally joined the BNP at the local level in Bogura.
His political profile rose significantly after the BNP returned to power in 2001. In 2002, he was appointed senior joint secretary general of the party. He later organized nationwide grassroots conferences, meeting local leaders across Bangladesh. During these tours, he emphasized agricultural subsidies, stipends for female students, social safety nets for the elderly, and environmental measures such as discouraging plastic bag use. Party insiders often point to this period as when he built strong ties with local activists.
In 2007, during a military-backed caretaker government often referred to as the “1/11” period, Tarique Rahman was arrested. He spent about 18 months in prison and was later released on bail in 2008 for medical treatment. Shortly afterward, he left for London with his wife and daughter. That departure marked the beginning of a 17-year exile.
Those years were some of the most difficult in BNP’s history. The party lost the 2008 general election and remained out of power for an extended period. Many of its leaders and activists faced legal and political challenges, and Khaleda Zia herself was imprisoned in later years. From London, Tarique continued to influence party strategy and messaging. In 2018, after his mother was jailed, he became the party’s acting chairman. During this time, he also endured personal tragedy, including the death of his younger brother in 2015.
Following political changes in Bangladesh and the removal of legal barriers against him, Tarique Rahman returned to the country on December 25 of the previous year. His homecoming drew massive crowds. In a speech to supporters, he declared, “We have a plan,” echoing the language of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. while signaling a forward-looking political agenda.
Within two months of his return, national elections were held. The BNP secured more than a two-thirds majority in parliament, paving the way for Tarique Rahman to be sworn in as Bangladesh’s 13th prime minister. His victory is widely seen as a major political turnaround after years of exile and opposition.
Observers suggest that his rise could reshape Bangladesh’s long-standing two-party rivalry and open a new chapter in the country’s political landscape. Supporters describe him as more measured and patient after years abroad, while critics remain watchful about how he will govern.
Now, as prime minister, Tarique Rahman faces the challenge of translating campaign promises into policy. He has pledged economic reform, anti-corruption measures, and electoral reforms aimed at strengthening democratic institutions. Whether his leadership will bring lasting transformation remains to be seen, but his return from exile to the top of government is already one of the most remarkable political stories in Bangladesh’s modern history.
