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Who is Tarique Rahman? Son of ex-PM Khaleda Zia returns to Bangladesh after 17 years

Tarique Rahman had fled Bangladesh in 2008 to live in London over what he called a "politically motivated persecution"

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Dec 25, 2025 07:27 PM IST

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after returning from London on. Thursday. (AP Photo)

Tarique Rahman, the son of former Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman and first woman Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to the country Thursday, after a 17-year self-imposed exile.

Tarique Rahman was appointed as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s acting chairman in 2018.

His arrival comes at a time when the BNP is regaining momentum in the country, following the ouster of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.

Who is Tarique Rahman?

The heir of Bangladesh’s ruling family, Rahman fled Bangladesh in 2008 to live in London over what he called a “politically motivated persecution”, Al Jazeera quoted.

Rahman, now 60, had claimed that a conspiracy was afoot to kill him through torture under the former government of Hasina between 2006 and 2008 in Bangladesh. He had moved to London for medical treatment with permission following custodial torture, news agency Associated Press reported.

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As the frontrunner, the Opposition leader is expected to become the country’s new leader if BNP emerges as the largest party in the February 12 general elections next year, BBC reported.

Rahman has been a de facto leader of the BNP. He used to regularly join meetings and rallies from London through online platforms, keeping his party united.

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Rahman supported Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus when he took over as the government’s chief adviser. However, his relationship with his party continued to remain shaky, AP reported.

Although convicted in multiple corruption cases during Hasina’s 15-year rule since 2009, the interim government of Yunus in 2024 acquitted Rahman of all criminal charges, including involvement in grenade attacks on a Hasina rally in 2004.

He was also never openly challenged by any party insiders during his absence from the nation, as per the news agency.

Tarique Rahman accorded a grand welcome in Dhaka

A flight carrying Rahman, his wife and daughter arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka late Thursday morning amid tight security measures.

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Massive crowds of supporters spread through an area about 2 kilometres between the airport and the reception venue, where many waited through the night. A sea of people also waited at the venue, according to the report.

Senior party leaders said they expected “millions,” the report added.

Rahman’s plans for the day

After a warm reception, party officials told AP that Rahman plans to go to a hospital to visit his ailing mother and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who led a coalition government from 2001 to 2006.

Khaleda entered politics after her husband, former military chief and then President Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated in a military coup in 1981. A non-elected government backed by the military took over in 2006, leading to political turmoil in the country.

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Khaleda is considered one of two key figures in Bangladesh politics besides Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia in November this year, after being convicted of “crimes against humanity” by a tribunal that she herself set up in 2009 to allegedly go after political enemies.