BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's return to Bangladesh marks a new chapter in his political life—a new innings that also reflects a broader transition towards second-generation leadership in national politics. His return matters not because of the size of the crowd that gathered to welcome him on Thursday, but because of the condition he returned to. For one and a half years, the political system operated with a visible absence at its centre. Leadership was often remote, authority fragmented, and accountability blurred. His return does not automatically alter these realities; it alters how people read them. It creates assurance where there had been uncertainty, and expectation where there had been drift.
After landing at Dhaka airport, he walked barefoot on the soil of his country after 17 years in exile, before going on to address a mammoth gathering. His message was brief: "I have a plan," he said. What followed was not explanation but repetition. Again and again, he returned to a single phrase: a secure Bangladesh. This emphasis was likely deliberate. Rather than offering a range of promises, he narrowed the focus to a single, overarching governing concern of the moment.
Political leaders repeat what they want the public to measure them against. In the present context, the security imperative is not an abstract ambition; it reflects a widely felt absence. Lawlessness has spread, mob behaviour has all but normalised, and enforcement has failed to keep pace. So by repeatedly invoking peace and security, he framed the crisis not as ideological or developmental, but as basic and immediate. The logic implied sequence rather than solution: order must come before reform, and safety must precede stability.
Equally important was what he did not say. There was no language of revenge, no denunciation of rivals, no appeal to grievance. This absence did not change political conditions, but it helped reshape perceptions. In moments of uncertainty, rhetoric functions as reassurance. By avoiding a confrontational tone and returning instead to the measured language of security, he projected restraint. It conveyed a message of focused determination without promising immediate outcomes.
This matters because Bangladesh is passing through a period defined by anxiety and unpredictability. Public frustration is driven less by contested ideas than by a sense of insecurity. In such conditions, clarity of purpose can calm frayed nerves. Tarique Rahman's return has produced a sense of calm because unpredictability has been reduced, if not eliminated. People feel assured that someone is now on the ground and claiming responsibility, even if his claim has yet to be tested.
That assurance also feeds expectations about the upcoming election. For months, we have seen the political momentum stall amid leadership ambiguity. Khaleda Zia's withdrawal from active politics left party supporters uncertain, and doubts over Tarique Rahman's return deepened that uncertainty. His presence resolves the question of party leadership without resolving the question of outcome. It also allows people to imagine a path forward.
Within the BNP, this moment also signals a generational transition. Tarique represents second-generation leadership in a party long shaped by its founding figures. He is often described as a figure of pride for the party's younger supporters. This demographic reality matters. Younger voters generally tend to be less patient with disorder and less tolerant of the powers that be. Their expectations are practical rather than ideological. For them, security and predictability are a crucial part of their intended life trajectory.
Inside the party, however, assurance alone will not be enough. Leadership presence can improve order and discipline, but only if authority is properly and judiciously exercised. The BNP's recent record, marked by allegations of extortion and indiscipline following the July 2024 uprising, remains a source of concern. So, public trust will not be rebuilt through symbolism alone. Any commitment to a secure Bangladesh will be judged first by the internal conduct of party members.
Expectations beyond the party are already elevated. Many now assume that the election will indeed be held on time and return BNP to power with Tarique Rahman at its helm. This assumption raises hope which can help stabilise public mood in a context of insecurity. But it can also magnify disappointment if results do not follow.
Seventeen years of exile appear to have shaped a more measured political tone. The "plan" he refers to was likely developed through years of conversation with party workers, professionals, and citizens, even while he lived abroad. These discussions are reflected in the BNP's 31-point agenda, covering education, governance, and climate policy, among others. We will see how this plays out going forward.
In short, Tarique Rahman's return has not changed conditions on the ground; it has changed how many think about the future. What exists now is hope and assurance. Whether that hope hardens into trust will depend on actions that have yet to be taken. Until that happens, this will remain a new political chapter whose outcome remains very much up in the air.
Azman Rahman is a political commentator.
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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