Bangladesh Election 2026: Bangladesh has entered the final hours of campaigning ahead of its crucial parliamentary election, with election rules requiring all political activities to stop by 7:30 pm on February 10. Voting is scheduled for February 12.
As the deadline approaches, parties and candidates have intensified their outreach through rallies, door-to-door visits, public meetings, and media messaging. The election is unfolding at a fragile time, with the country still dealing with political instability, social unrest, and strained regional ties following last year’s leadership change.
Bangladesh Election 2026: Is Tarique Rahman Gaining Public Support Ahead of the Vote?
With campaigning drawing to a close, Tarique Rahman has emerged as one of the most closely watched figures in the election. Less than two months after returning from nearly 20 years of self-imposed exile in London, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader is being seen as a serious contender in what could become a defining moment in the country’s politics.
If opinion polls are accurate, Thursday’s vote could mark a stunning turnaround for the 60-year-old, who left Bangladesh in 2008 after his release from detention under a military-backed caretaker government, saying he required medical treatment following an anti-corruption crackdown.
Bangladesh Election 2026: BNP Leader Tarique Rahman’s Return After Sheikh Hasina’s Exit Boosts Momentum
Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka last Christmas to a hero’s welcome, months after a youth-led uprising in August 2024 forced the resignation of long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government.
Hasina is now living in exile in New Delhi. For decades, Bangladeshi politics was dominated by rivalry between her and Rahman’s mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Rahman’s father, Ziaur Rahman, was a key independence leader who governed Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981 before being assassinated.
BNP's Tarique Rahman’s Promises Ahead of Bangladesh Election on Feb 12, 2026
Tarique Rahman has pledged to rebalance Bangladesh’s international partnerships to attract investment while avoiding dependence on any single global power. This approach contrasts with Hasina’s tenure, which critics often viewed as closely aligned with India.
He has also spoken about expanding financial support for poor families and reducing reliance on garment exports by promoting sectors such as toys and leather goods. Another key promise is a two-term, 10-year limit for prime ministers, aimed at preventing the rise of authoritarian rule.
Bangladesh Election 2026: Tarique Rahman Says Events Have Moved Too Fast Since His Return
Since arriving in Dhaka with his cardiologist wife and barrister daughter, Rahman says events have unfolded at a pace he has barely been able to process.
"I don't know how we have passed every minute since we landed," Rahman said at his party office. His daughter Zaima, who stood beside him, has been actively campaigning to build support for her father.
Bangladesh Election 2026: Who is Tarique Rahman?
Born on November 20, 1965, in Dhaka, Tarique Rahman is the eldest son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. He studied international relations at the University of Dhaka before leaving his studies and later ran businesses in textiles and agro-products.
Since returning, Rahman has sought to present himself as a calmer, more statesmanlike leader. The aggressive image linked to the BNP’s 2001–2006 rule has given way to calls for reconciliation. Although he never held a formal government post, critics once accused him of operating a parallel power centre a charge he denies.
Tarique Rahman’s Legal Battles and Acquittals After Hasina’s Fall
Under Sheikh Hasina’s rule, Tarique Rahman became the focus of multiple corruption cases and was convicted in absentia. In 2018, he was sentenced to life imprisonment over a 2004 grenade attack on a rally Hasina was attending.
Rahman has consistently denied all charges, calling them politically motivated. After Hasina’s removal from power, he was acquitted in all cases. From London, he had watched as the BNP weakened, with senior leaders jailed, party workers disappearing, and offices shut down.
Bangladesh Election 2026: Tarique Rahman’s Softer Tone and Call for Reconciliation
Since returning home, Tarique Rahman has adopted a noticeably restrained style, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and calling instead for unity and institutional reform. He has spoken about restoring “people’s ownership of the state,” a message that has energised BNP supporters seeking a fresh political start. His personal image has also softened on social media, helped by attention around the family’s Siberian cat Jebu.
Tarique Rahman’s Control Over BNP and Focus on Democracy
Within the BNP, Tarique Rahman’s authority remains strong. Party insiders say he is directly overseeing candidate selection, campaign strategy, and alliance talks roles he previously managed from abroad.
While acknowledging his place in dynastic politics, Rahman says rebuilding democracy is his top priority. "Only by practicing democracy can we prosper and rebuild our country. If we practice democracy, we can establish accountability," he said. "So we want to practice democracy, we want to rebuild our country", he further added.