Who is Tarique Rahman? The ‘Dark Prince’ all set to walk into Bangladesh PM office | World News

Bangladesh Election 2026: Tarique Rahman, whose Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) made a decisive comeback after the February 12 general elections, is one of the leading candidates for the post of prime minister. The elections were held after a long period of political unrest that shifted the country’s balance of power after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

Rahman is the eldest son of former Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman, who died on December 30, 2025, and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He returned to Bangladesh in December last year, ending 17 years of exile. His return to national politics comes at a time of unrest, political violence and controversy over the role of the interim administration overseeing the transition.

His father, General Ziaur Rahman, founded the BNP on September 1, 1978. He played an important role in Bangladesh’s liberation struggle. He later established the first civilian administration in the Roumari region, which was recaptured from Pakistani forces during the 1971 liberation war.

Following the death of Khaleda Zia, Tariq officially took over the chairmanship of the BNP in December 2025. Before taking the top job, he was managing party affairs as deputy chairman.

The ‘shadow PMO’ years

Often referred to as the “dark prince,” Tariq gained his political prominence during the BNP-led coalition government that ruled alongside Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh from 2001 to 2006. During this period, while Zia was serving as prime minister, Rahman appeared to have influence behind the scenes.

It operated out of Hawa Bhaban, a two-storey building known for its distinctive ‘wind tunnel’ structure. It officially functioned as his political office. In practice, it gained a reputation as a “shadow PMO”. This showed the level of authority he was believed to have held in those years.

Political turmoil and arrest

Civil unrest increased in the period between 2006 and 2008 as the BNP and the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina clashed over how to conduct national elections scheduled for mid-November 2006. Protests, street clashes and institutional paralysis have destabilized the country.

Amid the chaos, a military-backed interim government took over. The administration imposed sweeping restrictions, curtailed civil liberties, and sought to engineer a political arrangement that would exclude both Zia and Hasina from the power structure. Finally, elections were held in 2008 and the Awami League came to power.

Tarique was arrested by watchdog officials in May 2007 and detained for 17 months on various charges. He was later convicted in absentia in several cases, including a case linked to the alleged money laundering and assassination of Hasina.

These decisions were overturned after Hasina was ousted in a student-led uprising in August 2024.

Following his release, he went to London for medical treatment, citing torture during detention.

Return and political positioning

After returning to his country, Tariq assumed the position of interim chairman of his party. After his mother’s death, he was elected as the BNP leader by the party members. He attempted to present his return as part of a wider effort to restore democracy, portraying both himself and the BNP as supporters of his electoral policies.

Addressing party workers, he said, “Only democracy can save us… and it is you, every member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who can strengthen the foundation of this democracy.”

This statement summarized the message he has been giving since his return to active politics. He aimed to mobilize party workers.

Consolidating his political comeback with a decisive election victory, the BNP chief won from Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency. According to provisional figures, Tarık, who participated in the election with BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol, secured victory by collecting 216 thousand 284 votes.

He defeated Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel, who was contesting on the Libra symbol, and received 97,626 votes.

Tarique’s victory came as the BNP tightened its grip on the national race. As vote counting continued late into the night, unofficial trends showed the party was ahead of its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami in many constituencies.

The election was held to replace the interim administration led by Muhammad Younis, which took over after the Hasina-led Awami League government collapsed in August 2024. With the Awami League no longer in contention, the contest has effectively become a direct fight between the BNP and the Jamaat.

Initial calculations after midnight showed the BNP had a clear advantage. Data compiled by local media outlets showed that the party was ahead with 158 seats, while Jamaat got 41 seats and others got five. Counting has been completed in 204 of the 299 districts where voting took place.

BNP has already stated that Tariq will be the prime ministerial candidate if it forms the government.