An Interview With Tarique Rahman – Likely Bangladesh’s Next Prime Minister

Дата публикации: 03-02-2026 15:37:00

“We will establish the power of the people – this is my commitment,” the BNP leader tells The Diplomat.

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Bangladesh will hold its next national election on February 12. A referendum to shape the nation’s future governance structure will also be held on the same day. This election, the first since the uprising of 2024, thus marks a critical turning point for Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory.

After 16 years of an authoritarian regime, the July Revolution of 2024 brought together people from different backgrounds and political beliefs: university students, madrassa students, and democratic political parties across Bangladesh. Various forces united and demonstrated together against the draconian crackdown by then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The movement ended Hasina’s reign – and brought renewed hope for a truly democratic election to come.

A large portion of voters in this election are from Gen Z, meaning Bangladesh’s youth will decide the next prime minister. And many Gen Z voters are attending the political programs of the BNP, especially those helmed by party chairman Tarique Rahman.

An opinion survey conducted in December showed support for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at around 70 percent, with its nearest challenger, the Jamaat Islami (JI) at 19 percent. Another survey conducted by Innovision Consulting, a private consultancy firm, showed that more than 47 percent of people now see the possibility of Tarique Rahman (commonly called “TR” in Bangladesh) becoming the prime minister. On the other hand, 22.5 percent of people expect the JI chief to become the prime minister.

TR returned to Bangladesh in December 2025, after 17 years of self-exile in London to avoid re-arrest on charges that he says are a form of political persecution.

On behalf of The Diplomat, journalist Shahadat Shadhin met Tarique Rahman when he was attending a political meeting on the banks of the Jamuna River. Hundreds of thousands of people attended the meeting. When TR stepped onto the meeting stage, security personnel became highly alert, and security was visibly heightened throughout the venue. 

Before TR spoke, a woman named Marry gave a speech. She had lost her eyes to police gunfire while protesting for voting rights in 2018. Her speech created a heartbreaking moment.  

During his speech, the BNP leader emphasized five commitments: a family card ensuring a monthly allowance for the poorest women, a farmer card to link farmers with state services and support, a health card, jobs for the youth, and skills training for overseas employment.

In the political part, he acknowledged Bangladesh got independence in 1971, and 2024 July uprising saved it where the people gave their lives for a democratic future and a non-discrimination in the society. 

TR is using a bus for his campaign, which ensures accommodation for his small team. After the political rally he returned to the bus, where our interview was conducted.

As our interview started, the bus moved at a very slow pace along the road, because many people were waving at him. His supporters were carrying the flags of Bangladesh and the party. 

Below is a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity.

Mr. Tarique Rahman, welcome to the interview. You last had a district level visit in 2006 for elections. After a long time with only virtual contact, you are visiting the district level again in person. What is the difference after almost 20 years?

At that time, the program was mainly with my party leaders and activists. Back then, I mostly met party leaders and workers. Now, people of all ages and backgrounds are joining as well. I can see people have a strong hunger for change.  

This is a happy time for me. I am meeting enthusiastic youth, talking with them, and taking selfies. It’s a new experience. I am really enjoying spending time with them.

There are Gen Z-led parties in the country, but after you came back to Bangladesh, the Gen Z vibe turned toward you. Why?

We are engaging with the thinking of Gen Z… We are prioritizing job creation, technical education, sports, the IT sector, and job market, which I believe resonates strongly with Gen Z.  

If you look at today’s atmosphere, you’ll notice that most of the attendees in the meeting were Gen Z. I listen to them through a program called “The Plan,” where students from different universities and backgrounds share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. I truly enjoy connecting with them.

Does this popularity create pressure for you?

I see popularity as a responsibility. I believe it increases my duties as well.

But a section of Gen Z – the National Citizens Party or NCP – is your opposition. They will challenge you in Parliament and on the streets in the coming days. How much challenge are you feeling?

I don’t feel challenged. We are a political party. We are going to the people with our plans and commitments, and others are doing the same. The people will decide which plan is better for them. If we are able to form the government, we will implement our commitments. That’s all. My commitment is to the people. They are my strength.

You have committed to make Bangladesh a trillion-dollar economy. Isn’t this a pipe dream? [Editor’s note: Bangladesh’s 2025 GDP was around $475 billion.] Can Bangladesh realistically achieve a trillion-dollar economy with cheap labor and garments?

Becoming a trillion-dollar economy is difficult but not impossible. Now the country’s economy stands on two major pillars – garments and remittances – which were introduced under the BNP government…

We will emphasize the IT sector.  At the same time, we will also pay attention to the semiconductor industry, light engineering, footwear, and SMEs. In addition, the food sector, including processed food, has strong potential. We can produce enough fish and vegetables and export them abroad. We are also exploring opportunities in the creative economy.

But 36 percent of bank loans are now in default. According to a white paper released by the interim government, every year $16 billion was siphoned off from the country in the 15 years of the Hasina regime. How can you dream of trillions of dollars in such a country?

The loan defaults and money laundering that you are referring to happened during the past authoritarian regime. The government itself encouraged such practices. But these were public monies. There was no transparency or accountability. They had no commitment to the people, so they did all this. 

But what is the guarantee that your government will not do the same?

We want to come to power with the public’s vote. We want to be the people’s government. If we are the people’s government, how can we allow people’s money to be embezzled? The people will hold us accountable.

If we ensure strong financial governance, this problem can be solved. Our commitment is to build a transparent and accountable system where corruption will not be tolerated and abusers of power will be brought to justice.

It’s all about political will and a commitment to the nation and people.

At this stage of the interview, I paused for a brief break, as crowds had gathered on both sides of the road to wave at TR. The bus was going from Sirajganj district to Tangail district. It had crossed the Jamuna Bridge.

After August 5, the interim government could not fix law and order. Experts say that if law and order cannot be fixed quickly, the country will go toward long-term instability. If this continues, then the desire for revolution will fail.

The identity of the interim government is in its name: it is a short-term government. But a political government that comes to power through the people’s vote is different. Such a government carries authority and the power of the people. 

We want to take law and order to a place where people’s everyday security is not disrupted. People can return home without fear at night. The economy runs properly. Reflecting the aspirations of the people, we will promote peaceful coexistence in society and mutual respect in politics. We will uphold the rule of law, freedom of speech, and ensure human rights for all.

Before coming to interview you, I asked two civil society members in the country for their questions. Their first question: now you are extremely popular; who will challenge your power? There is a “winner takes all” vibe in the political culture of Bangladesh. That leads to the second question: if you come to power, will you take partisan control of all institutions? Institutions in our country no longer stand on their own.

Let me address the first question. In the history of Bangladesh, President Ziaur Rahman (the founder of the BNP) abolished the one-party system and restored multi-party democracy by taking power. In 2001, we had a two-thirds majority in our parliament, but we did not abolish the caretaker government system. Democracy is our party culture. Democratic culture is the foundation of our accountability.

As for the second question, I do not completely agree with your statement that institutions have not been established in our country. Institutions have been established to some extent; otherwise, how would fair elections have been possible in the past? However, during the last 17 years of authoritarian rule, many institutions have been politicized and partisanized. If a democratic culture is established, institutions will also be strengthened.

We [the BNP members] are victims of extrajudicial killings, false cases, politically motivated arrests, human rights violations, and an undemocratic system. That is why we will work to build a truly democratic society, strengthen our institutions, and uphold the rule of law – one in which every person is respected as a citizen with full rights. People of different opinions and different religions will be treated with equality, fairness, and justice.

There is a criticism that during the Hasina regime, there was an India-oriented foreign policy. The United States, China, India – these countries have their eyes on Bangladesh. What will be your foreign policy outlook?

I have 200 million people. There are 50 million people who need jobs. We have to fix law and order. We also have to strengthen the economy and help businesses grow across the country. No matter which countries we engage with, our national interest must come first. 

Our foreign policy will be a “Bangladesh First” policy. We will prioritize an economy-based foreign policy that safeguards Bangladesh’s interests. We believe in mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit in our foreign relations. 

Your climate policies are impressive. But you know that Dhaka has a large number of internal climate refugees. You are talking about commitments, including adaptation policies, that seem quite ambitious. How will it be possible?

We will prioritize excavating 20,000 kilometers of canals and planting 250 million trees. The reality is stark. In the past, digging just 20 feet was enough to access groundwater, but today even drilling 300 feet often fails to reach water. So, is this really “too ambitious” or simply unavoidable?

During the previous authoritarian regime, an initiative was launched to plant golpata in the Sundarbans. Yet the budget for buying a plant was only 8 taka, while an additional 10 taka went to carrying costs. This shows exactly how and where public money was being misused. We must prevent corruption in every sector, including the climate sector, and we are committed to ensuring that. Stopping the misuse of public funds will allow us to invest more effectively in the climate sector and meaningful action.

Climate change is a major national challenge. We will begin, because we must begin. And we will responsibly manage resources and also will mobilize funds from the Global Climate Fund.

Give me one main commitment that you promise implement if you come to power. If you fail to deliver, we will hold you accountable after five years.

We will work to implement our 31-point charter. In particular, we have identified seven core priorities such as the family card, farmer card, health care, employment, education, and we will place special emphasis on these issues. 

We will bring positive change to society by addressing the people’s interests and aspirations. We will uphold the aspirations of the people. We will establish the power of the people – this is my commitment to the people of the country.

When the interview ended, his bus had already arrived at another public gathering. Thousands of people were there as well. The crowd surrounded him, and he began speaking again. Just as at the previous rally, as TR spoke, Generation Z supporters launched Facebook Live streams and deployed drone footage, creating a digital campaign spectacle. 

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