Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh National Party and ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s son, will fight the upcoming General Elections of Bangladesh from two constituencies, reported Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune. Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after a 17-year exile, applied for voting rights in Bangladesh on Saturday, December 27.
On Sunday, he signed his nomination papers to contest the 13th national parliamentary election from the Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 constituencies on the BNP’s electoral symbol — the Sheaf of Paddy.
He signed the nomination papers in the evening at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, in the presence of coordinators from both constituencies, BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune. For Dhaka-17, BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Abdus Salam has been named chief coordinator, while Prof Dr Farhad Halim Donar, also from the Advisory Council, will have a key role in overseeing election activities.
Dhaka Tribune, citing BNP sources, reported that the nomination papers for both Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 are scheduled to be submitted on Monday. Earlier, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed had stated that Tarique would contest the upcoming parliamentary polls from the two constituencies as part of the party’s electoral strategy.
The 13th parliamentary election is set to be held on February 12, 2026. Meanwhile, Rahman also held discussions with BNP leaders and activists, including representatives from its associate bodies in the Dhaka-17 constituency, to exchange views on organisational issues and election-related matters, Khan added.
He is fighting the elections at a time of major upheaval in Bangladesh, which is hit by widespread protests, violence, and alleged atrocities against the Hindu minority, and is under international scrutiny. His return has boosted the morale of BNP workers who spilled onto the streets to accompany him to the Bangladesh Election Commission’s office as he went to apply for his induction to the voters’ list.
