Tarique named to TIME100
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been named one of the world’s 100 most influential people for 2026 by TIME magazine, placing the newly elected Bangladeshi leader among a roster of global figures shaping the current geopolitical landscape.
The annual TIME100 list, released on April 15, features an array of prominent leaders including Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, Pope Leo XIV, Benjamin Netanyahu, Balendra Shah, and Zohran Mamdani.
In its profile, TIME underscored Rahman’s dramatic political transformation, noting that only months ago he had been living in exile in southwest London.
The upheaval following the ousting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 catalyzed his return, culminating in a sweeping electoral victory in February that ended 17 years of political estrangement from his homeland.
Rahman’s rise also carried deep personal resonance. He returned to Bangladesh shortly before the death of his mother, Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female prime minister, whose political legacy he now inherits.
According to TIME, Rahman acknowledged the weight of that loss even as he pledged to channel it into national unity.
The magazine portrayed him as a leader confronting a complex domestic landscape, with Bangladesh grappling with high inflation, rising youth unemployment, and strained relations with neighboring India.
These challenges, it noted, will test the durability of his early popularity and reform agenda.
TIME also referenced past corruption allegations against Rahman—cases that have since been dismissed by the courts—suggesting they could shorten the typical post-election “honeymoon” period enjoyed by new leaders.
Nonetheless, Rahman signaled urgency in governance, telling the publication, “We need to work together, unite, so that people can have their political rights.”
Rahman assumed office following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s landslide victory in the 13th national elections held on February 12.
His premiership marks a significant political shift, restoring his party to power after years in opposition.
The recognition by TIME was welcomed by officials in Dhaka.
Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin described the inclusion as a validation of Rahman’s long political struggle and leadership at a “critical juncture” for the country.
In a statement shared on social media, he credited Rahman with helping to restore democratic processes, including free and fair elections, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.
Amin further said that Rahman’s return from exile had galvanized public support, calling it one of the most significant political homecomings in recent memory.
He added that the prime minister has been pursuing an ambitious reform agenda aimed at building an inclusive and non-discriminatory state, with early progress reported within the first months of his administration.
Rahman’s inclusion in the TIME100 list represents a notable moment of international recognition, signaling that his leadership — and Bangladesh’s political trajectory — will remain under close global scrutiny in the months ahead.
