After 17 years in exile, Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Christmas Day. Seven weeks later, he stands on the threshold of becoming Prime Minister.
In an exclusive sit-down interview, Time offered a sweeping assessment of what Tarique’s leadership could mean – not only for Bangladesh but for South Asia and the wider world. The analysis comes as his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) moves toward forming a government following the dramatic ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.
TIME frames Tarique’s ascent as both symbolic and consequential: the return of a political heir after years abroad, and the reopening of Bangladesh’s democratic experiment after a turbulent chapter.
First priorities: Law, discipline, unity
When asked about his immediate agenda, Tarique laid out three pillars – rule of law, financial discipline and national unity.
“Whatever political programmes we have, whatever policies we take, if we cannot unify the country, it won’t be possible to take the country forward,” he told TIME.
The magazine notes that Bangladesh remains deeply scarred by last year’s violence. Up to 1,400 people were killed during the July uprising, while thousands more reportedly disappeared during years of political repression. Institutions – from courts to civil service – are widely viewed as having been politicised.
Tarique’s challenge, TIME suggests, is to balance accountability with restraint. Violence targeting Awami League supporters and religious minorities after the BNP’s previous return to power in 2001 still casts a shadow.
“Vengeance will not bring anything back,” Tarique said. “If we can keep everyone united, that might get us something good.”
The economic test
If unity is the emotional imperative, economics is the structural one.
Bangladesh’s GDP expanded dramatically during Hasina’s tenure – from $71 billion in 2006 to $460 billion in 2022 – making it one of the Asia-Pacific’s fastest-growing economies. Yet rising inequality, inflation, youth unemployment and currency weakness eroded public confidence.
TIME underscores the scale of the problem: roughly 2 million young Bangladeshis enter the workforce each year, while youth unemployment hovers at 13.5%. Foreign reserves are strained, import restrictions have disrupted energy supplies, and over 40 million people live in extreme poverty.
Rahman has proposed a “Family Card” program providing monthly cash transfers to women and the unemployed, though funding questions remain.
He also outlined plans to:
Liberalise the banking sector
Expand digital connectivity
Support young entrepreneurs
Upskill nearly 1 million migrant workers abroad through language and technical training
The message, TIME notes, is that economic reform must combine fiscal discipline with social protection.
Resetting India and recalibrating Washington
Foreign policy looms large.
Relations with India deteriorated following Hasina’s ouster, given her close ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Disputes over water-sharing of the Teesta River and trade imbalances remain sensitive.
Tarique told TIME that several bilateral agreements contain “imbalances” that need correction, emphasising that “Bangladesh’s interest comes first.”
Still, he has signalled pragmatism – meeting Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in December.
Across the globe, relations with the United States also demand recalibration. Under President Donald Trump, tariffs were initially imposed at 37% before being negotiated down to 19% after trade concessions.
Rahman has floated potential purchases of Boeing aircraft and US energy infrastructure to further reduce the trade deficit and secure better market access.
“We can help each other,” he said.
Managing Islamism
TIME highlights another delicate balance: the rise of Islamist politics.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, whose ban was rescinded, is expected to emerge as the second-largest bloc in Parliament. Though the BNP appears to have secured an outright majority, Jamaat remains influential.
While Jamaat has softened some rhetoric, critics remain wary. Rahman, however, stressed cooperation among democratic forces.
“It’s not only the responsibility of the BNP,” he said. “All parties who believe in democracy must work together.”
The students’ unfinished revolution
The July uprising began with student protests over employment quotas and expanded into a broader revolt. The student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) briefly embodied hopes for a generational shift, but electoral dominance by traditional parties has left many young activists disillusioned.
Former NCP leader Tasnim Jara told TIME she still believes a genuine alternative can emerge – but gradually, through integrity and local trust-building.
Tarique acknowledged the moral weight of the revolution.
“We have a very, very strong responsibility to those people who lost their lives,” he said.
A regional turning point?
TIME’s analysis suggests Tarique’s leadership could redefine Bangladesh’s regional posture –assertive with India, transactional with Washington, cautious with Islamist forces, and focused on economic restructuring at home.
But the magazine also warns: high expectations can quickly turn into high pressures.
After 17 years abroad, Tarique Rahman returns not just as a politician, but as the face of a national reset. Whether he can transform post-revolution hope into institutional stability will determine not only Bangladesh’s trajectory, but also its strategic weight in South Asia.
For now, the region watches.