Tarique Rahman

Tarique Rahman (born 20 November 1965) is a Bangladeshi politician who serves as the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He is the eldest son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the late President Ziaur Rahman. Despite living in exile in London since 2007, he has wielded significant influence over BNP's political strategies. Born in Dhaka, Tarique was actively involved in politics from a young age. He became a member of parliament and a senior leader of the BNP. He was accused of corruption and extortion during the 2001-2006 BNP-led government, charges he has denied. In 2007, Tarique was arrested by the caretaker government on corruption charges. After being released on bail, he left Bangladesh for London in 2008, where he has lived since. Despite his absence, he has maintained control over the BNP through his loyalists and has been the de facto leader of the party. In 2023, Tarique was formally made the Acting Chairman of the BNP by his mother Khaleda Zia. After the fall of the Hasina government in August 2024, his party's return to power became more likely, though he himself remained in London.