Tarique emerges leading entrant in BD election: TIME
Staff Reporter :
International media spotlight has shifted sharply to Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections, with US-based Time magazine identifying Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman as the “clear front runner” ahead of the 12 February 2026 polls.
In its latest special feature, titled “Bangladesh’s Prodigal Son”, Time portrays Rahman as a central figure in the nation’s evolving political landscape.
The profile, based partly on an extensive interview, highlights his return to Bangladesh on 25 December 2025 after 17 years in exile, where he was greeted by hundreds of thousands of supporters upon arrival at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The report describes Rahman’s unexpected rise from prolonged political absence to a key contender in this year’s election, which follows the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina amid widespread protests in 2024.
Time notes that Rahman is positioning himself as a bridge between Bangladesh’s older political elite — rooted in the country’s liberation era — and the aspirations of younger voters seeking change.
Speaking to the magazine from his family home, Rahman acknowledged challenges including his own health and a lifelong reticence for public speaking, but insisted that he was committed to serving the nation if given the opportunity.
“The thing is that I’m not very good at talking anyway … but if you ask me to do something, I try my best,” he told Time.
The Time report also underscores the symbolic and emotional weight of Rahman’s return, coming just days before the death of his mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, whose passing drew massive crowds and renewed focus on the BNP’s role in national politics.
According to Time, opinion polling conducted in late December suggests the BNP enjoys significant support, with some surveys showing around 70 percent backing for the party, compared with roughly 19 percent for its nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami.
The election itself — which will elect members of the Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament) and include a constitutional referendum on the July National Charter — marks a rare moment in Bangladesh’s history.
Major political forces are competing in a dramatically altered field after the suspension of the Awami League’s registration, reshaping the contest into a de facto duel between the BNP and other alliances.
Rahman’s critics point to his controversial past, including corruption allegations during his party’s earlier periods of influence, but Time notes that many supporters regard him as a symbol of resilience and national renewal.
As campaign rallies intensify and election day approaches, Time’s portrayal places international focus squarely on Rahman’s leadership and the broader implications of his potential return to power — a factor that may prove decisive in shaping Bangladesh’s political direction for years to come.