 "Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman waves towards his supporters after his return from London, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Reuters")
After the demise of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia , her son Tarique Rahman on Friday was appointed as the chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The announcement was a month ahead of the general election in Bangladesh .
The Standing Committee of the BNP approved the appointment of Rahman as the Chairman of the party in a meeting on Friday, The Dhaka Tribune reported. The news was confirmed to the media by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after 17 years of self-exile in London. He was appointed as the chairman of the party after the seat was vacant following the death of his mother, Zia , after a prolonged illness. The three-time Bangladesh prime minister and BNP supremo passed away on December 30.
Move ahead of polls
Weeks before Bangladesh goes to the polls, a meeting of the National Standing Committee was convened to address the vacancy, as per the party constitution.
Meanwhile, the BNP media cell noted that with this appointment, Rahman officially took over the responsibilities of the party’s top leadership position, state-owned Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported.
The 60-year-old Bangladeshi political scion has emerged as a leading contender for prime ministership in the polls. Back in 2002, Rahman was made BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General and became Senior Vice Chairman in 2009.
BNP emerged as the forerunner to capture power in the February polls, as former prime minister Hasina’s Awami League party has been barred from contesting the election following the brutal July uprising that led to her ousting in 2024.
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View AllWith inputs from PTI.