From Exile To PM: Historic Firsts For Tarique Rahman After Bangladesh Poll Win

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 20:08 IST

Tarique Rahman spent nearly 17 years in self‑imposed exile in London before returning to Bangladesh in late 2025.

With his party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, securing a commanding lead in the nation’s first general election since the fall of long‑time leader Sheikh Hasina, Tarique Rahman is poised to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister. His rise would be marked by several unprecedented developments in the country’s political history.

First Leader To Return From Long Exile And Become PM

Tarique Rahman spent nearly 17 years in self‑imposed exile in London before returning to Bangladesh in late 2025, following his mother’s death and the collapse of the previous government’s legal barriers. No major Bangladeshi political leader in modern times has returned from prolonged exile to assume the country’s highest executive office.

Read more: Who Is Tarique Rahman? Khaleda Zia’s Son Set To Become Bangladesh’s Next PM

First BNP‑Led Government In Over Two Decades

Tarique Rahman would lead the first BNP‑led government in about 20 years, marking the party’s return to power after a long period in opposition and political marginalisation. The BNP once dominated Bangladeshi politics under earlier leadership but Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League held power for most of the last two decades.

First Dynastic Successor With A Controversial Past As PM

As the son of former President Ziaur Rahman and three‑time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman would extend Bangladesh’s pattern of political dynasties, becoming one of the few leaders to follow directly from two influential political family figures. However, his path has been notably atypical: he has never served as prime minister before and his return follows the overturning of past legal convictions that had kept him abroad.

First Male Prime Minister In Over Three Decades

If he is sworn in, Tarique Rahman would become the first male prime minister of Bangladesh in about 35 years. Over the past three decades, the premiership has been held almost exclusively by women- his mother Khaleda Zia and then Sheikh Hasina- making this a significant gender break in the country’s executive leadership.

Read more: ‘Reaffirmed Commitment To Peace’: PM Modi Congratulates Tarique Rahman For Bangladesh Poll Win

First PM Facing A New Constitutional Framework

The 2026 election was held alongside a national referendum that approved the July National Charter- a package of constitutional reforms that includes term limits, a bicameral legislature, strengthened judicial independence and other governance changes. Tarique Rahman would be the first head of government to work under this new constitutional framework as it begins to take effect.

First PM With A Broad Reform Mandate After Popular Uprising

Tarique Rahman’s ascendancy follows a student‑led uprising that toppled a long‑entrenched political order and ushered in demands for democratic reform. His premiership would mark the first time a Bangladeshi leader takes office with a mandate explicitly tied to widespread public demands for systemic change, accountability and institutional reform.

News world From Exile To PM: Historic Firsts For Tarique Rahman After Bangladesh Poll Win

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