Tarique Rahman appointed chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party

Tarique Rahman has been appointed as the chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), days after the death of his mother and party chief, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, following a prolonged illness.

The decision was taken unanimously at a meeting of the BNP’s National Standing Committee on Friday. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir confirmed Rahman’s appointment to the media, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

In a post on X, the BNP said the position of party chairman had fallen vacant following Khaleda Zia’s demise and that the appointment was made in accordance with the party constitution. “Mr Tarique Rahman was unanimously appointed to the vacant post and formally given responsibility as the Chairman of the BNP,” the party said.

Addressing a meet-and-greet event on Saturday, Rahman said there was “no reason” for Bangladesh to return to the political conditions that prevailed before the ouster of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, reported bdnews24.com.
“We don’t want to go back to pre-August 5 days. There’s no reason for us to do that,” he said.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25, ending 17 years of self-exile in London. He had been serving as the party’s acting chairperson since 2018, when Khaleda Zia was imprisoned.

Khaleda Zia, a three-time prime minister and BNP matriarch, passed away on December 30 after a prolonged illness.

Rahman, 60, has long been a key figure in the BNP’s leadership. He was appointed Senior Joint Secretary General in 2002, became Senior Vice Chairman in 2009, and later took charge as acting chairman during his mother’s incarceration.

With the Awami League barred from contesting the upcoming February elections, the BNP has emerged as the frontrunner to form the next government. Rahman is widely seen as a leading contender for the post of prime minister.

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