Tariq Rahman: In a major development in Bangladesh politics, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Begum Khaleda Zia’s son Tariq Rahman has returned home after a long gap of nearly 17 years. After the return of Tariq Rehman, tremendous enthusiasm is being seen among BNP supporters and it is being seen as a decisive turning point in the country’s politics.

Tariq Rahman’s return to his country has come at a time when Bangladesh is going through a period of serious political instability. Violent movements are going on in different parts of the country, while fundamentalist forces like Jamaat-e-Islami are expanding their influence.

Why is Tariq Rehman’s return important for India?

Tariq Rehman’s return has special significance for Delhi. Awami League, which is considered Pro India, is banned from contesting elections and Khaleda Zia is admitted in the hospital. At such a time, Bangladesh is standing at a crossroads, where during the tenure of interim government head Mohammad Yunus, radical Islamic elements are active and anti-India rhetoric has increased. The biggest concern for India is about Jamaat-e-Islami, which is considered a supporter of Pakistan’s ISI. Jamaat, which was banned during the Sheikh Hasina government, has again made a place in politics after the change of power last year.

Electoral equation and increasing power of Jamaat

According to recent opinion polls, BNP is likely to win the most seats in the elections, but its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami is giving it a tough competition. India’s concern has also increased because the student wing of Jamaat has registered an unexpected victory in the student union elections of Dhaka University.

Why is this a positive sign for India?

India views the BNP as a relatively liberal and democratic alternative, even though relations between the two have historically been strained. New Delhi hopes that the return of Tariq Rehman will bring new energy to the party workers and BNP can form the next government. During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, Bangladesh maintained close relations with India and maintained a balanced distance from China and Pakistan. During the Yunus government, closeness with Pakistan has increased and distance with India has been seen. India hopes that there will be a change in its foreign policy if BNP comes to power. On December 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly expressed concern about Khaleda Zia’s health and offered India’s support. The BNP expressed gratitude in response, which was seen as a rare positive gesture amid years of strained relations.

Distance from Yunus government and Jamaat

Tariq Rehman has expressed differences with the Yunus government and raised questions on the long-term foreign policy decisions of the interim government. He has criticized Jamaat-e-Islami and refused alliance with it in the elections. Earlier this year, London-based Tariq Rahman had called for a ‘Bangladesh First’ foreign policy, inspired by former US President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ slogan. He had said, ‘Neither Delhi, nor Pindi, Bangladesh first’, from which it is clear that BNP will adopt the policy of getting closer to neither Rawalpindi nor Delhi.

Tariq Rehman’s homecoming

Tariq Rahman’s arrival in Dhaka was grand. It was claimed that about 50 lakh BNP workers participated in the road show taken out from the airport to his residence. Tariq Rehman is likely to contest from Bogura 6 (Sadar) seat, while party chief Khaleda Zia will contest from her stronghold Bogura 7 (Gabatali Shajahanpur). According to sources, fundamentalist elements are not happy with this show of strength and there is a possibility of a clash between BNP and Jamaat before the elections. The government had made the highest level security arrangements on Thursday. According to local media, around 3 lakh supporters reached the capital on 10 special trains, which the BNP described as a ‘historic crowd’.

Who is Tariq Rehman

Tariq Rehman is the son of former President Ziaur Rehman and has been living in London since 2008. During the Sheikh Hasina regime, he was convicted in several cases, which the BNP described as a political conspiracy. In 2007, he was arrested in a corruption case and there were allegations of serious health problems and torture during detention. In 2008, he got bail and was allowed to go to London for treatment, since then he has been living there.

He was also sentenced in absentia in the 2004 Dhaka grenade attack case. 24 people were killed in this attack, while Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped. In a 2008 Dhaka Tribune series of reports exposing corruption during the BNP regime of 2001–06, he was described as the ‘Dark Prince’. However, in the last one year, the courts have acquitted him in all major cases.

Deposed former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has suddenly come forward with a new political stance. The statements given in his latest interview are shocking not only the politics of Dhaka but the entire South Asia. After leaving power in August 2024, Hasina had been continuously blaming America and Pakistan, now she is adopting a very measured and restrained stance.

Soon after the change of regime in August 2024, Hasina had claimed that her government fell due to American interference. Even many of her ministers had said that Washington had paved the way for political instability, but now Hasina is speaking in a completely different tone. In a recent interview she said that she does not blame any one country. According to him, the political situation was worsened by giving him wrong information and the role of Mohammad Yunus was more important in this whole story. This is a completely opposite stance from his earlier statements.

Hasina softens after allegations against Mohammad Yunus

Hasina, who once described Yunus as America’s weapon, is now giving a more balanced statement. He said that Yunus is supported not only by America but also by a large network of western countries. Besides, she was also seen saying that she has no personal grudge against America. His stance indicates that he is preparing to improve relations with Washington.

Changed language regarding Pakistan also

Hasina had given very strong statements against Pakistan after the coup, but now she is making very limited comments and saying that there should be no problem in diplomatic relations between Dhaka-Islamabad. His soft tone is being considered a big signal from the point of view of South Asian geo-politics.

Signs of retreat from dispute over St. Martin island

For a long time, Hasina had been claiming that America wants to increase its dominance on the island of St. Martin. Many times he had said that his government was weakened because of opposing this pressure, but now in his interview he has maintained complete silence on this issue. In his words, some things happened behind closed doors and now is not the right time to discuss them.

Why such big political changes?

Experts believe that there is a deep strategy behind these major changes of Hasina. General elections are to be held in Bangladesh in February 2026 and Hasina is gradually rearranging her political equations. Apart from this, his supporters are openly protesting against the present government and Yunus, due to which the pressure on the ruling system of the country has increased. On the other hand, due to the separation of BNP and Jamaat, the position of the opposition has also become fragmented, due to which the political picture has become more complex.

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Mohammad Yunus, head of the interim government of Bangladesh, has given a big statement on India. He said that if given a free choice, India would keep Sheikh Hasina with it and would not send her back to Bangladesh. This statement of Yunus has come at a time when India had said a few days ago that the matters related to Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina are of legal nature and there is a need for consultation between India and Bangladesh.

Yunus said in his interview that India has always supported Sheikh Hasina and if there is no legal obligation then they will keep her with them. It is noteworthy that former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina had to leave power after massive protests last year. After his departure from the post, Mohammad Yunus was appointed the head of the interim government. There are many allegations of corruption and human rights violations against Hasina. Bangladesh government has sought his extradition from India, but till now India has not taken any formal step on this.

I asked interim Bangladeshi leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus about accusations of anti-Hindu violence in his country since the revolution that forced out the Hasina government.

Watch his response below, and the full interview here:https://t.co/vQGDaoyk89 pic.twitter.com/MX7UEiZsDo

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) October 2, 2025

British-Indian journalist Mehdi Hasan

Mohammad Yunus said in an interview to British-Indian journalist Mehdi Hasan that if India wants, it can keep Sheikh Hasina with itself. I can’t tell them what to do with them, but they should ensure that they don’t talk about Bangladesh or our people. He said that some external forces are helping to bring Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh, so that she returns as a victorious leader.

Yunus hints at relations with India

Mohammad Yunus’s statement is being considered politically sensitive for India-Bangladesh relations. He said that India has always stood with the Awami League and the Sheikh Hasina government. Therefore, the present government expects neutral behavior from India. India has not yet taken any concrete stand on Sheikh Hasina’s extradition. New Delhi says that this is a legal matter, which will be decided through the judicial process. According to political analysts, this statement of Yunus may increase diplomatic tension between India and Bangladesh. Especially when both the countries are already going through a sensitive period on issues like border security, Rohingya refugees and water disputes.

Called the news of violence on Hindu community fake

Mohammad Yunus reacted to reports of increasing attacks on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh and called them fake news. He said that such news is part of the fake news campaign being spread in India. Yunus said, “When I meet leaders of the Hindu community, I tell them, do not see yourself only as a Hindu, but as a citizen. You belong to this country, hence deserve full protection of the state.” He further said that many times local disputes are transformed into religious violence.

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Bangladesh Political Crisis: Nobel Prize winner Professor Mohammad Yunus became the head of the interim government of Bangladesh after the student movement in 2024. He is now able to surround himself under political military and social pressure. He recently said in a meeting that if I cannot work then what is the meaning of being the main advisor. His gesture was to resign from his post. It is feared that he has also made this statement because there is a lack of consent in political parties. Apart from this, the delay in deciding the election date and the deep mistrust between the army and the government can also be the main reason.
In Bangladesh, Army Chief General Waqar-e-Zaman has warned to hold elections by December 2025. Along with this, he rejected the human corridor scheme on the Myanmar border of the Yunus government as a blood corridor. According to a report by Dhaka Tribune, Army Chief General Waqar-Uz Zaman said on the decision of Mohammad Yunus that no action would be tolerated against Bangladesh’s sovereignty. This comment clearly indicates that the army is now impacting not only in the role of inspector, but also on policy decisions.

BNP leader Khandkar’s warning

The opposition government is continuously protesting in Bangladesh, which is seen on Mohammad Yunus. BNP and opposition demands that the clear date of election be announced. The decision of 2020 Dhaka Mayor election was recognized. The case against Awami League should be intensified. At the same time, BNP leader Khandakar Musharraf Hussain clearly said that if the government does not meet the expectations of the people, then we can withdraw support.

Human Rights Watch and International Critic

Human Rights Watch has also made many allegations against the Younis government. According to Human Rights Watch, the Unus government is working to crush fundamental freedom. The former ruling Awami worked to impose a political ban on the League, which is not morally right. The HRW report has revealed that the government is recurring the previous dictatorial style.

Yunus’s moral challenge

Yunus, who is once considered the hope of democracy at one time, is now feeling a hurdle of his own promises. He promised that democracy would be restored in the country, transparency and political coordination of elections would be seen. However, in view of the current situation, nothing like this seems to be happening.

Bangladesh sheikh hasina: The tremendous public propagation led by students in Bangladesh last year changed the direction of Bangladesh’s politics. The voices raised against corruption, unemployment and rivalry took the form of a mass movement and finally the Awami League government fell. After this, 77 -year -old Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to leave the country and she came to India to take refuge.

The National Bureau of Bangladesh Police (NCB) has requested to issue a red corner notice against Sheikh Hasina and 11 others from Interpol on 19 April. This request has been made on the basis of arrest warrant issued by Bangladesh’s International Crime Tribunal (ICT). These people have been facing serious allegations of crime and genocide against humanity, allegedly occurred during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina.

What does red corner notice do?
The red corner notice is not a arrest warrant, but a request sent to the member countries on behalf of Interpol is that the person should be detected. He should be temporarily arrested, so that he can be assigned for extradition. Member countries are not legally bound to take action on this notice, it completely depends on their domestic laws and political intention.

India’s role is very important
India’s role becomes very important in this situation. There is an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh, but this does not mean that India will have to hand over to Sheikh Hasina. India will first have to see whether the allegations are of political nature or not. If India feels that the action taken against Sheikh Hasina is inspired by the spirit of political revenge, then it can deny extradition.

India and Sheikh Hasina’s close relationship
Apart from this, the relations between India and Sheikh Hasina have been historically very close. There has been a significant partnership between India and Bangladesh about security cooperation, border management and regional stability under Hasina’s rule. In such a situation, it is not only a legal issue for India, but also a very sensitive diplomatic subject.

Arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina and many former ministers
On August 8, when the interim government of Bangladesh was formed, Nobel winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the Chief Advisor. A few weeks after the formation of the government, ICT issued an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina and several former ministers. After this, in November, ICT made a formal appeal from the police to seek Interpol’s help. On January 21, the interim government made it clear that they are trying to bring Sheikh Hasina back from India. If needed, they can also ask for international intervention.

Bangladesh Politics: Elections are to be held after Sheikh Hasina was coup in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina’s anti -party BNP BNP has also erupted on Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus over the delay in the elections in the neighboring country. BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that if elections are not held, the situation will get worse.

According to a report by Dhaka Tribune, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus at State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday (April 16, 2025). After the meeting, BNP expressed dissatisfaction over not having an election roadmap near Yunus. He said, “We are not absolutely satisfied with his (Chief Advisor) comments. We have clearly stated that if elections are not held by December, the political and social status of the country will be worse.”

Meeting with Mohammad Yunus lasted for two hours

The BNP delegation held a meeting with the Chief Advisor for about two hours and also handed over a letter about his different demands. In the letter handed over to the Chief Advisor, BNP demanded control, independent and fair elections on commodity prices, 1/11 governance and false cases registered by the Awami League government as well as withdrawal of electoral reforms and a clear roadmap.

It is reported that during the meeting, BNP leaders discussed issues like election time, solid roadmap, ongoing reform processes, return of political matters and Sheikh Hasina’s trial. Mirza Fakhrul told reporters that the Chief Advisor told him that the government is planning to hold elections at some time between December and June 2026. However, no specific date or time limit was given.

‘If the elections are not done, the situation will get worse’

Objecting this, he said, “If elections are not held by December, the political, economic and social status of the country will be worse. It will be difficult to control it.” He further said, “We will come again in front of you after discussing with our party and allies. Then we will take some decision.”

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