Bangladesh’s leading prime ministerial contender, Tarique Rahman, has rejected a proposal for a post-election unity government, signalling confidence that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) can secure enough seats to govern alone after the upcoming national polls.
Speaking in an interview with Reuters on Friday, Tarique dismissed overtures from rival Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, which had floated the idea of a joint administration to stabilise the country following months of political turmoil.
“How can I form a government with my political opponents, and then who would be in the opposition?” Tarique said at the party’s office. He added that if rivals sit in opposition, he expects them to play a constructive democratic role.
Tarique, 60, returned to Bangladesh in December after nearly two decades in exile in London, following a youth-led uprising that toppled long-time leader Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Since Hasina fled to India, Bangladesh has been run by an interim government ahead of the 12 February parliamentary election.
The BNP and Jamaat previously governed together between 2001 and 2006, but Tarique’s remarks suggest little appetite within the BNP leadership for reviving that partnership. Jamaat leaders have argued that a unity arrangement could help restore political stability and reassure investors after unrest disrupted key industries, including the garment sector.
BNP insiders claim the party expects to win more than two-thirds of the 300 parliamentary seats, with BNP candidates contesting 292 constituencies while allies field candidates elsewhere. Tarique declined to predict a specific tally but said the party was “confident” of forming the next government. Opinion polls broadly indicate a BNP lead, though analysts say the Jamaat alliance could still mount a strong challenge.
Balanced foreign policy
Regional diplomacy is expected to be a central issue for any incoming administration. Relations with India have cooled since New Delhi gave shelter to Sheikh Hasina, who was later sentenced to death by a Dhaka court over her role in a crackdown. At the same time, China has expanded economic engagement in Bangladesh.
Tarique said a BNP government would pursue a balanced foreign policy focused on economic growth rather than alignment with any single country.
“If we are in government, we need to create jobs for young people and attract investment,” Tarique said. “Whoever respects Bangladesh’s sovereignty and offers opportunities for our people, we will maintain friendship with them.”
On Hasina's legacy
On domestic politics, Tarique said anyone accepted by the public has the right to take part in politics when asked about the future role of Hasina’s family members. “If someone is accepted by the people, if people welcome them, then anyone has the right to do politics,” he said. The Awami League, however, remains barred from contesting the election.
Rohingya issue
Tarique also addressed the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis, saying Bangladesh wants displaced people to return to Myanmar but only when conditions are safe.
“We will work so that they can go back to their own land,” Tarique said. “Until it is safe, they are welcome to stay here.”
Bangladesh currently hosts nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, placing heavy pressure on resources in one of the world’s most densely populated countries. The interim government has repeatedly called for stronger international support and a sustainable repatriation plan.
With the election approaching, Tarique’s firm rejection of a unity government underscores a campaign increasingly framed around a decisive BNP mandate and a foreign policy centred on economic pragmatism and strategic balance.
Source: BSS