Experts see Tarique's political future on optimistic note

DFI discourse on political future of Bangladesh held at a local hotel in Dhaka on Thursdsy 6 Nov. 2025.

Strategic experts, political leaders, academics, journalists and students on Thursday opined, BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman in his recent extempore interview with BBC Bangla Service demonstrated his quality of honest, democratic and inclusive political leadership which Bangladesh needs now. 

A book, Tarique Rahman, Politics and Policies by Mohammad Zainul Abedin was also discussed at the DFI Discourse on Reimagining Bangladesh's political future: Analysis on Tarique Rahman's Politics and Policies and the BBC Bangla discourse organised by the Dhaka Forum Initiative (DFI) at a posh hotel in Dhaka.

Dr. khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, member BNP standing committee was the chief guest at the programme presided over by former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Prof. Anwarullah Chowdhury. BNP leader Amir Khashru was the guest of honour at the programme which was also addressed by Maj Gen Fazle Elahi Akbar and Dr. Isharaf Hossain of DFI among others. 

Earlier, a review of Tarique Rahman's interview with BBC Bangla Service by Bobby Hajjaj, charman, Natinalist Democratic Movement, was read out. Prof. Dil Roushan Jannat, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University spoke on the book written on him. A review of the book by Ms Nodileka Mandela, grand daughter of South African leader Nelson Mandela was presented through a video. The programme was moderated by Prof Qamrul Ahsan, Vice - Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University.

Dr. Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain said that Tarique Rahman's politics started from the grassroots in Bogra and the party standing committee made him the senior joint secretary general and when party chief Begum Khaleda was taken to jail in a false case he was made acting chairman.

Other speakers said, Tarique Rahman put forward the 31-point programme for repair of the statecraft when there was hardly the demand for political reform way back in 2022. 

Tarique spelt out his Bangladesh First policy, raised the demand for doing away with job quota even before people thought about it. The BNP acting chairman has also said that, if elected his pary will from a national government together with alliance partners. 

The speakers made mention of the ordeal of Tarique Rahman under the Moin Uddin, Fakhruddin government, and said, a healthy youngman turned so devastated by torture that he had to move tn London for treatment. Begum Khaleda Zia was taken to jail in a false case and tortured physically and mentally. Tarique's younger brother Arafat Rahman did nor recover from injuries he received during torture. Tarique himself was convicted in fabricated cases. But he holds no grudges for revenge, the BBC interview revealed.

Dr. Isharaf Hossain said the BBC intervew reflected the politicaj, philosophical and academic aspects of Tarique's thinking. He has initiated the creation of a narrative on Bangladesh, he added. Greenwatch News Desk