Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued a scathing rebuke to Tarique Rahman’s long-awaited return from 17 years abroad, insisting it heralds no genuine political renewal. In an exclusive IANS conversation in New Delhi, she predicted intensified divisions in Bangladesh’s fraught landscape.
Rahman’s homecoming revives memories of a divisive past, Hasina argued. ‘He’s not bringing improvement—he’s resurrecting politics that bled the country dry,’ she said. The Awami League stalwart criticized his exile in the UK as a cushy escape from corruption charges tied to parallel governance and graft under Khaleda Zia’s rule.
Son of President Ziaur Rahman and PM Khaleda Zia, Tarique—aka Tarique Zia—is a polarizing figure. With violence surging, extremists flouting laws, and BNP sidelined from polls, his role looms large. Tensions with India, prickly during Khaleda’s era, resurface as he postures as a national guardian.
Hasina decried BNP’s reported strong-arming of voters through threats against Awami supporters and the public. Polls position the ‘Dark Prince’ as a top PM contender, but she dismissed this. ‘Leadership demands transparency and public ties, not remote directives and opportunistic returns,’ she emphasized.
‘Bangladesh deserves better than a heritage of corruption, thuggery, and extremist ties,’ Hasina concluded. Her remarks spotlight risks to stability, with eyes on elections and bilateral futures. Rahman’s reappearance, rather than bridging gaps, may fracture them further, challenging hopes for unified progress.