BNP’s Tarique Rahman to return to historical vote

The man has ended that the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh ended months of speculation by saying that he would return from two decades to fight historical elections.

“It is time, God’s willingness, I will return soon,” Tarik Rahman, Chairman of the Board of the National Party, Bangladesh, told BBC Bangla in his first interview in nearly 20 years.

BNP is the candidate for the vote scheduled in February, and it is expected that the Rahman, the son of its sick leader, will lead the country if it wins.

Many consider it to be one of the most parties in the history of Bangladesh after the mass protests toppled Bzmani three times, Sheikh Hasina in 2024. It is unlikely to be allowed for the Awami League party to participate.

According to the United Nations investigators, up to 1,400 people died in the turmoil 2024, which included a deadly campaign on the demonstrations led by students that toppled Al -Hasaina.

Hasina, who fled to India, is a trial in the absence of crimes against alleged humanity that she was committed during the demonstrations.

Since it was dropped, many have asked why Rahman continued in London, where he lived since 2008.

“Perhaps because of some personal reasons, the return has not yet occurred. But I think the time has come,” he said.

“These are elections that people were waiting for, I cannot remove myself during this time.”

The BNP Awami Association crushed its long -term competitor, and other opponents in 15 years of referee. The Rahman, who was sentenced to many absent cases, was cleared of all charges after the expulsion of Hasinah.

The interim government, led by Nobel Prize holder Professor Mohamed Younis, banned Al -Awami from political activity until the end of the trial of its leaders. Both Hasinah and her party reject all charges against them.

Although BNP criticized the interim government over the past year for not announcing the date of elections, it appears to be sharing similar views on the participation of AWAMI.

Tarik Al -Rahman said: “Those who ordered killing and torture, they must be brought to justice,” said Tarik Rahman.

With the absence of his main rival, many speculate that BNP will have comfortable progress in the elections – and if the party wins, the Rahman, 58, is expected to be the next prime minister. His mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Dia, 80, is ill and is unlikely to be an active role in the campaign.

However, the Islamic group, the largest Islamic party in the country, has gained some reasons during the past year. The student wing won a majority in the elections of the General University Student Union for the first time, which is active.

Rahman believes that the results of the Student Union will not have an impact on the general elections. The percentage of votes in the previous elections was much smaller compared to the two main parties.

The Islamic Group is now talking to some other Islamic political parties to form an alliance, but Rahman says it is not concerned about this possibility.

“BNP faced competition in the elections before. There is nothing to worry about,” he said.

In the early first decade of the twentieth century, BNP and Jamaat formed a coalition government, but recently followed independent paths.

Meanwhile, a new party led by student leaders in the uprising, the National Citizen Party (NCP), failed to obtain a lot of support in the Student Union elections. For a party led by youth, the loss on their soil raised questions about their horizons in the national elections.

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

Bangladeshi courts issued an order to arrest her, and Bangladesh sought to hand it over. India has not officially interacted.

The relationship with India is a sensitive issue in politics, Bangladesh. The country shares the vast majority of its wild borders with India. Political parties, including BNP, have constantly criticized Delhi for supporting the Awami Association, including the three controversial elections during their rule.

Al -Rahman said: “If they (India) want to bother the people of Bangladesh by harboring a dictator, we will not do what we do about it.”

The central issue in the elections is likely to be the promise of democratic reform and freedom of expression. The Awami League government was subjected to widespread criticism, including the court order that prevented the media from publishing the speeches written by Tariki Rahman.

He told the BBC that he would ensure that such restrictions are not repeated if he reached power.

The interim government is trying to build a consensus between political parties on a set of reforms, but progress was slow. For many Bangladeshis, especially the youth who led the uprising last year, ensuring that basic freedoms will be a major test for the next government in the country.

The interview was conducted by the BBC News Mir Sabbir and Qadir Kalul