Tarique’s Test of Statecraft

BNP’s sweeping victory ends the political vacuum, but Tarique Rahman must stabilise institutions, reassure minorities, manage Jamaat’s rise and carefully reset Bangladesh’s fragile regional relationships

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A decisive mandate brings hope—but also a daunting test of governance, inclusivity and regional diplomacy

In the just-concluded (February 12) parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returned to power with a landslide victory after remaining in political oblivion for nearly two decades.

‘The victory is decisive, and it would appear that the BNP has come to stay, at least in the near future, under 60-year-old party supremo Tarique Rahman, who is the son of late President General Ziaur Rahman and late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Now that the stage is set for Tarique Rahman to assume the mantle of premiership, the world—especially India and its neighbouring countries—is intently watching how he steers the political course, which has been very turbulent over the last one and a half years in the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from power.

As of now, Tarique Rahman is treading with caution, as he has to perform a very delicate balancing act to address the heap of internal challenges the country is facing, as well as to deal with challenges emanating from external quarters. It is evident that the BNP has come back to power because politically sensitive Bangladeshis did not want the post-Hasina political vacuum to continue for a long time, and this void witnessed a deteriorating law-and-order situation and a sense of uncertainty. A huge sense of hope has also been raised among the people, who, hitherto distraught with the misrule of the interim government, are now heaving a sigh of relief and are eagerly looking forward to some respite under the Tarique-led new dispensation, which will be in place very soon.