Elections, Faith, Faultlines

As campaigning intensifies, Bangladesh faces a volatile mix of political uncertainty, communal resurgence, strained ties with India and deepening engagement with Pakistan

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Bangladesh election campaigning is steadily picking up momentum as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman completes one month of his return to Dhaka after nearly 17 years of exile in the UK.

After his mother, Khaleda Zia’s burial, he seems to have settled down very fast, gradually reorganising his party, which was almost leaderless. Having aged and being away from grassroots politics for nearly two decades, Tarique Rahman is touching base, delivering lectures and contacting party rank and file in order to instil discipline. Simultaneously, the new party chairman is meeting ambassadors and high commissions of different countries, holding parleys to strengthen bilateral relations. Till now, he has been able to establish good rapport with these heads of mission. These include the Indian and Paki: stani High Commissions, as well as Turkey and other countries.