Professor Dr. A K Abdul Momen

Exiled Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina expressed her desire to return to her country in December, 2026 and her announcement ignited spirit among her supporters and common people of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi people; irrespective of party affiliation is excited and ready to welcome her.

It is a fact that when she was forced to leave the country, many people were happy and they expected better days and performance. But ironically, first, the incompetence, the widespread corruption, nepotism and mob violence of Dr. Muhammed Yunus’s interim government brought disaster and anarchy in Bangladesh and therefore, they were looking for a change.

On 12 February 2026, through a highly controversial pre-arranged election the victory was shared between the BNP and the radical Jamaatee Islam and newly created NCP parties. Being afraid of the victory of the candidates of the nation’s largest and oldest political party, the Awami League Party (AL), that commends over 69% to 80% of popular support were not allowed to contest in the election by an executive order. Moreover, the election was mostly rigged and pre-arranged and therefore, it lost people’s trust and support.

BNP government formed with Tarique Rahman as its Prime Minister

A new government was formed with BNP’s Tarique Rahman as its Prime Minister. He is the son of General Ziaur Rahman who emerged as a “Strongman” in 1975 after a military coup in which Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founder and his 16 close relatives were mercilessly killed including his 10-year old son. Two of his daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived as they were abroad at the time.

In 1981, Ziaur Rahman was killed by military and another general, Lt. Gen. H M Ershad declared himself as the nation’s President. After the brutal death of Gen. Zia, his widow Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, the surviving daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched a nation-wide campaign that toppled General H M Ershad’s regime in 1991. Afterwards, Khaleda Zia was elected as the nation’s Prime Minister. When she was Prime Minister, her son Tarique Rahman ran a parallel government and he was known as “Mr. 10 percent“ as every government contract must pay him 10% bribe or commission.

In order to stay in power, his mother Khaleda Zia tried to manipulate elections, and therefore, she was forced to resign. A non-partisan “Caretaker government” was installed and her son Tarique Rahman was tortured and imprisoned. However, he was allowed to leave Bangladesh on condition that he would never return to politics and corruption. He lived in exile in UK for last 17 years.

However, he returned to Bangladesh in December 2025 after the downfall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and got elected in a controversial election in February 2026 and assumed the responsibility of the Bangladesh Prime Minister.

Although he inherits his parents legacy, yet the Tarique government is a failure due to incompetence and corruption

Unfortunately, as he is failing to manage the administration and as his policies are hostile to opposition parties and to the business, hundreds of factories have closed down, thousands have been laid off of which 85% are female workers, unemployment and inflation sharply increased, and most important, poverty and helplessness dramatically increased leading to social unrest and insecurity. In addition, radical jihadi terrorists have taken over the administration and all convicted terrorists have been released from jails. It appears that the Tarique government abdicated its own responsibility to protect its citizens and stop mob violence. No wonder, in his first 100 days, as per TIB, a Think Tank, over 600 were murdered, thousands were raped or harassed, religious sites and shrines, mosques, mondirs, mazars, and historical sites were desecrated and vandalized, and as per media reports, every day, at least 10 people are being killed extrajudiciously. It may be mentioned that over 295,000 houses and businesses of the supporters and leaders of AL party either looted, vandalized, destroyed or burned down including the historic 32 Dhanmondi, the National Museum of Independence Movement of Bangladesh, the house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation.

Tarique Rahman government’s performance is poor

Since economic activity slowed down, nation’s tax revenues drastically declined forcing the government to borrow more and more from banks or print currency. People’s income also sharply declined and people’s helplessness and misery enhanced manyfold. While during the past government of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh maintained an annual GDP growth rate of 6.8% percent on average for last 17 years, it went down to 2.2% percent now. As per the World Food Organization, 62.5 million people might face starvation in Bangladesh and the international financial agencies including the WB and the IMF are predicting bad days for Bangladesh in future. They are hesitant to grant any loans to Bangladesh government now. Nation’s credit ratings have dropped and its stock market is collapsing.

As the government failed to supply essential items such as gas, electricity and fertilizers, government became shaky. During Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, 100% households got electricity and the farmers never face shortages of fertilizers or essential inputs. No wonder instability intensified and people believe, Sheikh Hasina’s return can ameliorate their problems and grievances.

In fact, it is the failure of the governments of Muhammed Yunus and now Tarique Rahman’s that created a favorable environment for Sheikh Hasina’s return.

Why USA should start dialogue with Sheikh Hasina’s AL party?

USA signed a number of lucrative deals with the past two governments. Unless those deals are materialized, the US interest might not be realized. Since Tarique Rahman government is uncertain and shaky, there is possibility of non-realization of these goals. Therefore, for the USA, a stable government in Bangladesh is more desirable. Sheikh Hasina’s return can guarantee such stability. Therefore, it is time for the US government to start dialogue with the AL party. In the process, the US can try to ensure the realization of its own goals.

Why EU should start dialogue with the AL party?

The European countries must start a dialogue with the Sheikh Hasina’s AL party to maintain their business and existing relationship with Bangladesh, the 8th largest country in the world and the 9th largest market place of the world.

Since the Tarique Rahman government’s actions are uncertain and its foreign policy is ambiguous, for example, it suddenly decided to buy 25 Boeing aircraft from USA and 2 Squadron fighter jets from China ignoring the past (Sheikh Hasina) government’s contract of buying 10 aircraft from the AirBus, disappointed the Europeans. Sheikh Hasina signed contracts to buy its second satellite from France and few frigates and ships from UK plus signed few business deals with Germany but all of those are being abandoned by the new government. Instead, it is trying to develop more closer readerships with the People’s Republic of China.

Sheikh Hasina signed a 15-year long gas supply contract with the Qatar government in 2023 but the new government cancelled it and replaced it by signing a new contract with an American company of former US Ambassador to Dhaka, Peter Haas. It also developed bad relationship with Japan as it blamed them of bribing Sheikh Hasina in getting contracts of Metro Rail and Dhaka’s 3rd Terminal.

It has been blaming India, its closet neighbor for all its ills and failures. It neither discourage the hawks to launch a propaganda against India nor stop them from provoking to create an “Islamic Caliphate” in greater Bengal by attacking and capturing 10 states of India. These blame-games are not helping the Tarique government.

Why BNP should start dialogue with the AL party?

Since the BNP government is shaky and it is failing to maintain law and order situation, failing to control mob violence, corruption, rape and wanton killings, failing to deliver essentials, failing to protect its own citizens and businesses and failing to improve security, it is time for Tarique Rahman government to start dialogue with Sheikh Hasina, an able administrator. It needs an inclusive government. Time is ticking. Delay may cause more chaos and abrupt change of government.

Why it is necessary for Sheikh Hasina to start a dialogue?

It is imperative for Sheikh Hasina to start dialogues with the BNP government, with the USA and the European governments for her safe return and more importantly, for withdrawal of ban on her political party, the AL party.

Since she is interested for the withdrawal of ban on her political party and also withdrawal of all false and fraudulent cases against her party supporters, and since she is not interested to overthrow the Tarique government, Tarique Rahman should immediately start a dialogue with her without delay for its own survival. He may unilaterally declare withdrawal of ban on all political parties and withdraw all politically motivated false and fraudulent cases to start the dialogue. Such dialogues would be a win-win situation for the BNP party, the AL party and other stakeholders.

It may be time for India, the host of Sheikh Hasina to initiate such dialogues for creating a normal environment in the region for the wellbeing of its people.

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* former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh (2019-24) and former Bangladesh Ambassador and PR to the UN (2009-15)