‘Party support, not lineage, drew me back to Bangladesh’, Tarique tells Time Magazine

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said he is the right person to heal Bangladesh’s divisions, insisting his return is driven by party supporters rather than family lineage.

“It’s not because I’m the son of my father and mother,” he told the Time Magazine in his first exclusive interview since returning home after more than 17 years in self-imposed exile.

“My party supporters are the reason why I’m here today.”

Tarique arrived in Dhaka on Dec 25, greeted by hundreds of thousands of supporters.

His speeches had been banned from local media for a decade under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

According to Time, Tarique is the frontrunner in the Feb 12 elections called after Hasina’s ouster in a student‑led mass uprising 18 months ago.

He is positioning himself as a bridge between Bangladesh’s political aristocracy and the aspirations of young revolutionaries.

To supporters, he is a “persecuted redeemer”, while to critics, a “dark prince”, Time reported.

Tarique denies his past corruption allegations, saying: “They have failed to prove anything.”

His prior convictions were quashed by the interim government.

“We have a very, very strong responsibility to those people who lost their lives,” he was quoted as saying. “We need to work together, unite, so that people can have their political rights.”

The American publication described him as soft‑spoken and policy‑driven, outlining plans to dig 12,000 miles of canals, plant 50 million trees annually, create green spaces in Dhaka, and modernise technical colleges and healthcare.

“If I can implement just 30 percent of what I have planned, I’m sure the people of Bangladesh will support me,” he told Time.

Tarique’s past remains controversial.

Bangladesh was ranked the world’s most corrupt country during the BNP’s last tenure, Transparency International noted.

A leaked US cable branded him “a symbol of kleptocratic government and violent politics”.

He was jailed for 18 months during the 2007–2008 military-controlled caretaker government on charges including embezzlement and money laundering, and says torture left him with lasting spinal problems.

Bangladesh has since grown into one of Asia’s fastest‑expanding economies, with GDP rising from $71 billion in 2006 to $460 billion in 2022.

More recently, the Donald Trump Administration imposed “reciprocal” tariffs of 20 percent on Bangladesh, which has hit its export-reliant economy.

Tarique said he is exploring trade deals, including Boeing purchases and energy projects.

“Donald Trump will look after the interests of his country. I will look after the interests of my country. But we can also help each other,” he told Time.

“Our first priority will be to ensure the rule of law. To make sure that people are safe on the street, safe to do business,” he added.

Asked what he misses about London, the BNP leader replied: “My freedom.”

He quoted Spider‑Man to underline his mission: “With great power comes great responsibility. I very much believe that.”