Tarique Rahman’s homecoming message amid Bangladesh violence

Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh after nearly two decades of exile.

Tarique Rahman, deputy chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, called on the people of the country to work together to ensure peace and stability on Thursday, December 25. Rahman, the 60-year-old son of Bangladesh’s first female prime minister Khaleda Zia, made this call in his first speech to party supporters a few hours after landing in the capital Dhaka after 17 years of exile.

In his speech in Dhaka, Rahman said: “No matter which political party we belong to, whichever religion we believe in, even though we are non-partisan individuals, we must all join hands to maintain law and order.” He added: “There are people from hills and plains in this country; Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. We want to build a safe Bangladesh where every woman, man and child can leave home safely and return safely.”

Referring to American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., Rahman said, “I have a plan for the people of my country and for my country,” and added: “This plan is for the benefit of the people, for the development of the country, to change the fate of the country. I need the support of the people of the whole country to implement the plan. If you are with us, we will be able to implement my plan with God’s permission.”

Rahman is seen as one of the top candidates for the post of prime minister ahead of Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections expected to be held in February 2026. His return comes at a sensitive time in Bangladesh, where violence has increased following the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Osman was a key figure in last year’s student-led uprising that resulted in the ouster of former Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina, who has since gone into hiding in India.