BNP’s Tarique Rahman to return for historic vote

The person tipped to be the subsequent prime minister of Bangladesh has ended months of hypothesis by saying he’ll return from twenty years abroad to battle landmark elections.

“The time has come, God prepared, I’ll return quickly,” Tarique Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Social gathering’s performing chairman, instructed BBC Bangla in his first face-to-face interview for almost 20 years.

The BNP is the frontrunner within the vote due in February and Rahman, the son of its ailing chief, is predicted to steer the nation if it wins.

Many view it as one of the vital consequential in Bangladesh’s historical past after mass protests ousted three-time PM Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Her Awami League occasion is unlikely to be allowed to participate.

Based on UN investigators, as much as 1,400 folks died within the 2024 unrest, which included a lethal crackdown on student-led demonstrations that ousted Hasina.

Hasina, who fled to India, is on trial in absentia for crimes in opposition to humanity alleged to have been dedicated in the course of the years she was in energy.

Since she was toppled, many have questioned why Rahman was nonetheless in London, the place he has lived since 2008.

“Perhaps as a consequence of some private causes, the return has not occurred but. However I believe the time has come,” he stated.

“That is an election for which individuals had been ready, I can not hold myself away throughout this time.”

The Awami League crushed the BNP, its long-term rival, and different opponents throughout 15 years of rule. Rahman, who was sentenced in quite a few instances in absentia, was cleared of all prices after Hasina was ousted.

The interim authorities, led by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, has banned the Awami League from political exercise till the trial of its leaders is over. Each Hasina and her occasion reject all the costs in opposition to them.

Though the BNP has criticised the interim authorities over the previous 12 months for not asserting an election date, they seem to share related views on the Awami League’s participation.

“Those that ordered killing and torture, they have to be delivered to justice,” stated Tarique Rahman.

With its predominant rival absent, many speculate the BNP may have a snug lead within the election – and if the occasion wins, Rahman, 58, is predicted to be the subsequent prime minister. His mom, former PM Khaleda Zia, who’s 80, is ailing and unlikely to take an lively half within the marketing campaign.

Nonetheless, Jamaat-e-Islami, the nation’s largest Islamist occasion, has seemingly gained some floor during the last 12 months. Its scholar wing received majorities in two public college scholar union elections for the primary time, energising the occasion.

Rahman thinks the outcomes of the scholar union will not have an implication for the overall election. Their proportion of votes in earlier elections was a lot smaller in comparison with the 2 main events.

Jamaat-e-Islami is now in talks with another Islamist political events to kind an alliance, however Rahman says he isn’t frightened about this prospect.

“The BNP confronted competitors within the election earlier than. There’s nothing to be frightened about,” he stated.

Within the early 2000s, the BNP and Jamaat shaped a coalition authorities, however have not too long ago pursued impartial paths.

In the meantime, a brand new occasion led by scholar leaders of the rebellion, the Nationwide Citizen’s Social gathering (NCP), failed to achieve a lot help within the scholar union elections. For a youth-led occasion, dropping on their dwelling turf has raised questions on their prospects within the nationwide election.

Relations with Bangladesh’s largest neighbour, India, have been tense since Hasina discovered shelter in Delhi.

Bangladeshi courts have issued a warrant for her arrest, and Bangladesh has sought her extradition. India has but to formally react.

The connection with India is a delicate situation in Bangladeshi politics. The nation shares the overwhelming majority of its land border with India. Political events, together with the BNP, have constantly criticised Delhi for its help for the Awami League, together with the three controversial elections held throughout its rule.

“In the event that they [India] wish to displease Bangladeshi folks by sheltering a dictator, then now we have nothing to do about it,” stated Rahman.

A central situation within the election is prone to be the promise of democratic reform and freedom of speech. The Awami League authorities was extensively criticised for suppressing dissent, together with a court docket order that banned the media from publishing speeches by Tarique Rahman.

He instructed the BBC he would guarantee such restrictions usually are not repeated if he involves energy.

The interim authorities is making an attempt to construct a consensus amongst political events on a set of reforms, however progress has been gradual. For a lot of Bangladeshis, notably the younger individuals who led final 12 months’s rebellion, making certain fundamental freedoms will probably be a key take a look at for the nation’s subsequent authorities.

The interview was performed by BBC Information Bangla’s Mir Sabbir and Qadir Kallol