Bangladesh Sees Male Prime Minister After 35 Years

Hamid Khan Wazir

The political landscape of Bangladesh has undergone a seismic shift as Tarique Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is poised to become the country's first male Prime Minister in thirty-five years following the BNP's historic triumph in the much-existed February 12 general elections. The polls, widely regarded as the most transparent and credible in the country’s recent history, signal a profound political reset following the 2024 Gen Z revolution that ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.

Rahman, 60, the son of late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and assassinated President Ziaur Rahman, is set to become the country’s next Prime Minister. His BNP secured a commanding two-thirds majority, winning over 200 of the 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad. The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, a key opposition force, finished a distant second with 77 seats — its strongest showing ever but far short of power. In a rare display of maturity, Jamaat accepted the results without challenge, further legitimizing the process.

The road to this moment was dramatic. Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December 2025 after 17 years in self-imposed exile in London. His homecoming followed the student-led Gen Z uprising — often called the July or Monsoon Revolution — that forced Hasina to flee to India in August 2024 amid deadly protests. Over 1,400 people, mostly young demonstrators, were killed in the crackdown.

Tragically, Rahman’s mother, Khaleda Zia — Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and Hasina’s arch-rival — passed away in December 2025 at age 80, just months after her release from a long imprisonment under Hasina’s government. Her death, following years of politically motivated cases, left a void in the BNP but also galvanized the party’s base.

The interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus deserves credit for delivering what observers called “widely fair” elections. Voter turnout exceeded 59%, and the process was free of the widespread rigging allegations that marred previous votes. Even the Islamist-leaning Jamaat alliance, which had hoped to capitalize on anti-Awami League sentiment, conceded defeat gracefully.

As the BNP prepares to form the government by February 15, the world watches to see if Tarique Rahman can move beyond the "clan-driven" politics of the past, as he confronts a complex inheritance. Domestically, he must deliver on the revolution’s promises: economic revival, judicial reform, and youth empowerment in a nation still reeling from post-uprising instability. The BNP’s traditional support base — business elites, rural conservatives, and urban middle classes — will expect rapid action on jobs and infrastructure.

The real test, however, lies in foreign policy, particularly the delicate balancing act between India and Pakistan.

Relations with New Delhi remain fraught. Sheikh Hasina, the BNP’s longtime nemesis and Khaleda Zia’s bitter rival, continues to enjoy self-exile in India. Despite repeated requests from Bangladesh’s interim authorities to extradite her to face charges over the 2024 killings, New Delhi has refused. This issue is deeply personal for Rahman, whose family endured years of persecution under Hasina. Yet, geography and economics demand pragmatism. Bangladesh relies heavily on Indian trade, transit, and water-sharing agreements.

Pakistan has moved swiftly to build bridges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally telephoned Rahman to congratulate him on the victory and extended a formal invitation to visit Islamabad. Sharif emphasized strengthening “brotherly ties,” invoking the legacy of Khaleda Zia, who maintained close links with Pakistan.

In a parallel gesture, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called Rahman, expressing hope that the two neighbors would jointly further strengthen cordial ties. Modi’s message highlighted India’s support for a democratic, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh.

For Rahman, the choice is not binary. He must pursue justice for past grievances without alienating powerful neighbors. Analysts say his government will likely adopt a “Bangladesh First” approach — deepening ties with both countries while asserting sovereignty on issues like Hasina’s extradition and border management.

The election of a male Prime Minister after 35 years of female dominance — from Khaleda Zia in 1991 to Hasina’s long reign — marks more than a generational shift. It reflects the Gen Z revolutionaries’ demand for change beyond dynastic politics. Yet Rahman himself is a product of that dynasty. The question now is whether he can transcend it.

In his victory speech, Rahman pledged to honor the spirit of the July Revolution while rebuilding institutions. “This is not the victory of one party,” he said. “It is the victory of the people of Bangladesh.”

As the world watches, the new Prime Minister faces the toughest test of his career: turning electoral triumph into lasting national transformation while navigating the treacherous waters of South Asian geopolitics. The coming months will reveal whether Bangladesh’s male PM after 35 years can deliver the change his country so desperately needs.