By Admin 
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting president Tariq Rahman, while addressing the countrymen in Dhaka on Thursday (December 25), said that he has a ‘plan’ for Bangladesh and its people, but did not share its concrete details.
Let us tell you that both the parents of 60 year old Tariq Rahman have held top power positions in Bangladesh. His father Ziaur Rahman was the sixth President of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981, who was assassinated. His mother Khaleda Zia was the Prime Minister of the country from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006 and became the first woman to hold this post.
Tariq Rehman did not declare himself the next PM
Given this political legacy and his return after 17 years in exile ahead of the crucial general elections in February, his address was inherently political. However, in his brief speech he did not directly introduce himself as the future Prime Minister, but mentioned his family’s contributions and legacy on several occasions.
His return after 17 years is being seen as a strategy to reclaim the leadership of BNP and garner public support. In his speech, he talked about a Bangladesh full of peace, security and unity and said that the current instability has become a big threat to law and order and the lives of common people.
I have a plan for my country: Tariq Rehman
He said in English, ‘I have a plan for my country, for the people of my country.’ However, the detailed outline of what this plan is has not been revealed yet. It also remains to be seen whether opponents and critics will also be included in this. BNP’s main rival Awami League has been kept out of the 2026 elections, while its leader and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge in India.
Absolute silence on Sheikh Hasina’s deportation!
Tariq Rehman, who himself has experienced exile, once again repeated allegations of repression and political isolation against the Sheikh Hasina government, but in his speech he did not comment explicitly on the future of his political rival or the ongoing death penalty case against him. He definitely said that the people of Bangladesh want to get back their freedom of speech and democratic rights. Some analysts are linking this to the ban on Awami League leaders from contesting elections.
Tariq Rehman did not say anything on the killings of Hindus
Tariq Rehman talked about an inclusive society that takes people of all religions and faiths together, but he did not directly condemn the recent incidents of violence, arson and killings, nor did he express extended condolences to the victims. He paid tribute to Osman Hadi and stressed the need to regain economic rights. Linking economic justice to the problems of common citizens, Rehman cited the struggles of 1971 and 2024 to show continuity between past sacrifices and present demands.
Through his speech, Tariq Rehman tried to present the BNP as a major alternative political force ahead of the February elections, especially at a time when many people in the country are feeling marginalised. By mentioning the liberation war of 1971, the rebellion of 1975 and the mass movements of the 1990s, he described himself as the heir of the democratic struggles of Bangladesh.