Bangladesh election: Why BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s return matters

Al JazeeraCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by Masum BillahDecember 26, 2025 at 09:21 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned to Bangladesh on Thursday, December 25, 2025, after 17 years in self-imposed exile in Britain. His return comes amid heightened political tension and violence in Bangladesh, following the assassination of a youth leader and ahead of national elections scheduled for February 2026. Rahman's arrival was met with a large rally of supporters in Dhaka, where he spoke of peace and unity. Analysts suggest his return could stabilize the country's political climate and reinforce the likelihood of the election proceeding as planned. The BNP is considered a frontrunner in the upcoming polls, with Rahman potentially vying for the prime ministership.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Asif Mohammad Shahan 30% Britain 30% Osman Hadi ×240% Khaleda Zia 50% Dhaka ×360% Bangladesh ×480% Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ×480% Tarique Rahman ×690%

Keywords

tarique rahman 100% bnp 90% bangladesh politics 90% election 80% political stability 70% political tension 60% political violence 60% khaleda zia 50% prime ministership 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.30

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Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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tarique rahman bnp bangladesh politics election political stability political tension political violence khaleda zia prime ministership

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