The dramatic return of BNP leader Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh after nearly two decades in exile has sparked fierce backlash from ousted leader Sheikh Hasina. In an IANS interview from New Delhi, Hasina labeled the move not as reform, but as a recipe for heightened political rifts in a nation already on edge.
‘This isn’t change or progress—it’s the revival of a toxic political era that cost Bangladesh immensely,’ Hasina remarked. She painted Rahman as out of touch, having lounged in British exile while dodging probes into corruption and power abuses linked to his mother’s tenure as premier.
Background reveals Tarique, 58, heir to Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia’s legacy, was accused by Hasina’s administration of creating shadowy power structures and financial misconduct. Now, amid rampant street violence, fading respect for law, and emboldened radicals, his arrival captivates the political landscape—particularly with BNP boycotting elections.
India-Bangladesh relations, historically tense under Khaleda, face renewed scrutiny as Rahman touts himself as a sovereignty champion. Hasina cautioned that his influence could exacerbate divisions. ‘Polarization won’t heal; it’ll deepen without true accountability and connection to the people,’ she said.
Recent surveys crown Rahman a frontrunner for premiership, dubbed the ‘Dark Prince.’ Yet Hasina spotlighted BNP’s alleged tactics: terrorizing rivals and civilians into submission. ‘You can’t forge a nation’s destiny on foundations of graft, brutality, and radical pacts,’ she declared.
As global capitals, including New Delhi, monitor Bangladesh’s electoral horizon, Hasina’s assessment underscores the perils of Rahman’s re-entry. Far from renewal, it might entrench old feuds, testing the resilience of democratic institutions in a volatile context.