Exile ends, ballot begins: Tarique Rahman registers as voter as Bangladesh heads to polls

Bangladesh, which has been witnessing prolonged political uncertainty and sporadic violence since the toppling of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024 amid mass protests, is scheduled to go to the polls on February 12.

According to EC officials, Tarique Rahman and his daughter, Zaima Rahman, submitted online applications to be registered as voters under Ward 19 of the Dhaka-17 constituency, within the Dhaka North City Corporation area, reported The Daily Star.

Tarique arrived at the Election Training Institute (ETI) of the EC around 1:00 pm, while Zaima completed her biometric registration earlier at about 12:45 pm, the report said.

Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing, ASM Humayun Kabir, said the duo would receive their National Identity Cards within five to 24 hours of completing the registration process.

“As far as we know, he filled out the form online and came today only to complete the registration by providing fingerprints and iris scans,” Kabir told The Daily Star.

Return amid political upheaval

Tarique Rahman’s voter registration comes days after his return to Bangladesh, marking the end of more than 17 years in self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom.

Bangladesh’s already volatile political landscape entered a decisive phase on Thursday when Rahman, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, arrived at Sylhet airport. His prolonged absence began in 2008, when he left the country for medical treatment amid mounting legal cases and political pressure.

His homecoming coincides with a period of intense political transition following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and the formation of a Muhammad Yunus-led interim government tasked with overseeing the upcoming elections.

A pivotal moment for BNP

Now 58, Tarique Rahman spent nearly two decades directing BNP affairs from London, emerging as the party’s de facto leader despite his physical absence from the country.

His return closes a long chapter marked by exile, legal battles and internal party uncertainty, and opens another at a time when Bangladesh’s political order is undergoing significant change.

Rahman’s re-entry into domestic politics has been facilitated by a series of legal developments over the past year. Higher courts acquitted him in several high-profile cases, including the 2004 grenade attack and the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, removing the main legal obstacles to his return.

These rulings have cleared the way for Rahman’s participation in the political process as the BNP positions itself for the February 12 parliamentary elections in a transformed political landscape.