Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that the return of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman after 17 years in exile could intensify political polarisation rather than usher in reform, as the country prepares for elections amid worsening security conditions.
In an interview with IANS from New Delhi on Wednesday, Hasina said Rahman’s re-emergence in Dhaka symbolised a return to a political culture that Bangladesh had already “paid a heavy price for,” rather than a new chapter of accountability or renewal.
“Tarique Rahman’s return does not represent renewal or reform; it represents a return to a politics that Bangladesh has already paid a heavy price for,” Hasina said. She added that Rahman had spent years living comfortably abroad, detached from the daily struggles of ordinary Bangladeshis, after fleeing accountability over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
Rahman, 58, the son of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is widely viewed as the key power centre within the BNP. During the BNP-led government, Hasina’s administration accused him of corruption and of operating a parallel command structure within the state.
His return comes at a time of deep political uncertainty following Hasina’s ouster in 2024 and the installation of an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. With general elections scheduled for February 12, Rahman is leading a BNP-led alliance that opinion surveys suggest is currently ahead in popularity.
Hasina cautioned that Rahman’s attempt to recast himself as a defender of Bangladesh’s sovereignty — particularly by appealing to nationalist segments sceptical of India — could further inflame divisions. She said he appeared to be signalling an equidistant posture toward India, China, and Pakistan, a strategy that may resonate politically but risks destabilising long-standing regional relationships.
“Rather than the country moving towards reform, his presence may further deepen the chasm of political polarisation,” she said.
Minorities and fear after 2024
Hasina also voiced grave concern over the security situation since her removal from office, particularly for minority communities. She pointed to a rise in mob violence and targeted attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, saying fear and uncertainty had spread across the country.
Reports indicate that at least 11 Hindus have been killed over a 35-day period, alongside multiple incidents of lynching that have drawn alarm from international human rights groups. Hasina described the violence as sustained rather than sporadic, warning that the climate of intimidation threatened Bangladesh’s social fabric.
“Leadership requires accountability, transparency, and engagement with the people, not direction from abroad followed by sudden re-entry when conditions appear favourable,” she told IANS, reiterating her concern that Rahman’s return could deepen divisions rather than heal them.
She further alleged that BNP activists had recently engaged in intimidation, coercing citizens — including Awami League supporters — to back the party under threats of violence or property destruction.
“Bangladesh’s future cannot be built on figures whose political legacy is defined by corruption, violence, and alliances with extremist forces,” she said.
India voices concern
In the interview, Hasina thanked Narendra Modi and the people of India for what she described as their “support and humanity,” saying New Delhi was right to uphold democratic principles, minority protection, and regional stability in Bangladesh.
“India has been Bangladesh’s closest neighbour and partner,” Hasina said in an exclusive e-mail interview. “Our two countries are bound by history, geography, mutual cooperation and commitment to regional stability.”
She added that a stable, democratic Bangladesh was in the interests of both nations and expressed confidence that bilateral ties would endure the current turmoil and strengthen once Bangladeshis were able to freely choose their own government.
Tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi have risen sharply amid escalating attacks on Hindu minorities and the targeting of Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh under the interim administration.
Last week, India publicly expressed grave concern over persistent violence against religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was closely monitoring developments and condemned the killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
India has also rejected what it described as a false anti-India narrative being projected in Bangladesh, stressing that maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of diplomatic missions is the responsibility of the interim government.
According to Indian officials, more than 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities — including killings, arson, and land grabs — have been documented during the tenure of the interim administration. New Delhi has argued that these incidents cannot be dismissed as media exaggeration or routine political violence.
As Bangladesh approaches the February 12 elections amid heightened insecurity and deepening political rifts, the return of a polarising political figure has added another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile landscape.
