Tarique Rahman Registers as Bangladeshi Voter After 17 Years in Self-Exile

Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, completed his voter registration and National Identity (NID) card formalities on December 27, 2025, marking his first inclusion on the voter list after more than 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. The 60-year-old leader visited the Election Commission (EC) office in Dhaka under tight security provided by the Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar, and police. He provided fingerprints and iris scans for biometric enrollment after submitting an online application earlier, with officials confirming he is expected to receive his NID card within 24 hours.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25, 2025, ending his long exile that began in September 2008 amid political turmoil, multiple criminal convictions (including money laundering and alleged assassination plot charges), and what he described as politically motivated persecution under the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina. His homecoming was met with massive public support, with hundreds of thousands of BNP supporters welcoming him at the airport and during rallies. His daughter, Zaima Rahman, also completed her NID registration formalities alongside him. Rahman plans to contest the upcoming national elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, from his ancestral Bogura-6 (Bogura Sadar) constituency, where BNP leaders have already collected his nomination papers.

The registration process has sparked controversy, with the banned Awami League questioning its legality. They argued that new voter registrations are prohibited after the election schedule announcement and highlighted that the formalities occurred on a Saturday—a government holiday—raising concerns about procedural violations and special privileges. EC officials, however, proceeded with the biometric verification, noting that Rahman had fulfilled the requirements. This development follows the political upheaval that led to Sheikh Hasina's ouster in 2024 after mass protests, paving the way for an interim government and fresh elections to restore stability.

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Rahman's return and voter registration are seen as pivotal for the BNP, potentially energizing the party and positioning him as a frontrunner for prime minister in the upcoming polls. His presence is expected to play a key role in addressing Bangladesh's ongoing political uncertainty, though debates over electoral procedures continue amid the country's fragile transition to democracy.

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