Tarique Rahman to Assume BNP Chairmanship Amid Rising Political Tensions Ahead of February Elections

Jan 2026 : The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced that its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, will formally assume the position of party chairman in the coming days, local media reported. The announcement was made by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir during a press briefing in Sylhet on Sunday evening.

Fakhrul stated that the position had remained vacant following the death of former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on December 30, 2025. He confirmed that her son, Tarique Rahman, would take over the party’s leadership, marking a new chapter in the BNP’s political journey.

The BNP Secretary General also revealed that the party plans to relaunch its election campaign from Sylhet, upholding the tradition of beginning major political drives from the region. “Although the media has expressed concerns over the polls, the BNP does not share those fears. The party has consistently demanded an election,” Fakhrul told journalists, according to the Daily Star.

Fakhrul criticized the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, accusing it of fostering a culture of mob violence that, he said, has eroded democratic processes over the past year. He emphasized that such trends could only be countered through collective resistance, calling for the restoration of democracy via a free and fair election.

Amid these developments, tensions have emerged between the BNP and its alliance partners, stemming from internal conflicts and rebellion by party leaders. Several BNP leaders have reportedly filed nominations to contest constituencies allocated to allied parties, despite warnings from the party high command and, in some cases, even after being expelled.

Alliance leaders have voiced serious concerns that such actions are undermining seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming national elections scheduled for February 12, 2026. In Bogura-2, for example, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna alleged that a BNP candidate, along with local party leaders and lawyers brought from Dhaka, created disturbances on the day of nomination submission to obstruct his candidacy.

Similar incidents were reported in Jhenaidah-4, where Rashed Khan, who joined the BNP after resigning as general secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, accused supporters of a rebel BNP candidate of intimidation and threats.

At least nine BNP leaders have been expelled from the party for submitting nominations in seats designated for alliance partners, reflecting a growing divide within the party. Analysts warn that these internal disputes may complicate the BNP’s electoral prospects and could deepen the rift with its coalition allies.

With the national elections less than six weeks away, the BNP faces the dual challenge of consolidating its leadership under Tarique Rahman while managing internal dissent and maintaining the confidence of its alliance partners. The outcome of these negotiations and campaign strategies will likely play a crucial role in determining the party’s performance in the February polls.