Bangladesh seeks new direction after Hasinas departure from politics

Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s Tarique Rahman Leads in Opinion Polls Ahead of General Election

A campaign rally for Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman took place in Gazipur, a garment manufacturing hub north of Dhaka, on Thursday evening. The event drew tens of thousands of people, many of whom had been waiting for hours to hear from Rahman.

Rahman succeeded as the BNP chairman following the death of his mother and Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, in December. The party has seen a significant increase in mobilization and rebuilding its strength under Rahman’s leadership, according to BNP leaders.

The Awami League party, led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was banned from politics last year by the interim administration of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. This move left the BNP as a frontrunner in Thursday’s vote. The main rival is Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party that has allied with the National Citizen Party.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after nearly 17 years of exile in the United Kingdom. He has been at the center of the BNP’s election campaign, which ended on Tuesday. His rallies drew large crowds, and his presence has reassured supporters of the party’s revival.

However, some analysts have expressed concerns about the BNP’s internal control. A recent study by Transparency International Bangladesh found that 91 percent of political violence recorded since August 5, 2024, involved BNP activists. Political analyst Dilara Chowdhury stated that the lack of discipline within the party has become increasingly visible during this year’s election campaign.

Rahman’s leadership is being tested for the first time in a general election. His family legacy has been a factor in his rise to power, but some analysts believe it may also be a source of pressure and expectation.

Source: Al Jazeera