BNP Confident of Victory, Rules Out Unity Government with Jamaat

Tarique Rahman, the primary contender for the office of Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has rejected the proposal of forming a unity government with his main opponent, Jamaat-e-Islami, following the upcoming election. In an interview with Reuters on Friday, he expressed firm confidence in his party's ability to win the election outright.

Rahman, 60, who leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned to his homeland last December after nearly two decades in exile in London. His return followed a youth-led uprising that ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—the career rival of his mother, Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female Prime Minister.

In the February 12 election, the BNP’s chief competitor is the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami. Once banned, the party has seen a recent resurgence. While the two parties governed Bangladesh together from 2001 to 2006, and Jamaat has expressed a willingness to revive that partnership in a unity government to stabilize the nation, Rahman is drawing a clear line.

Since Hasina fled to longtime ally India in August 2024, Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration.

When asked by Reuters at his party office regarding the possibility of a unity government, Tarique Rahman replied, "How can I form a government with my political opponents? Who would then be the opposition?"

"I do not know how many seats they will win," Rahman added. "But if they are the opposition, I hope to have them as a constructive opposition."

Electoral Outlook and International Relations
Rahman’s aides suggest the BNP is optimistic about winning more than two-thirds of the 300 parliamentary seats. The party is contesting 292 seats, with the remainder being fought by coalition partners. While Rahman declined to provide a specific number of predicted seats, he stated,

Public opinion polls consistently favor a BNP victory, though they also indicate a stiff challenge from a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance. This alliance includes the NCP—a party of "Gen-Z" activists born out of the anti-Hasina student movement.

The political landscape is further complicated by regional dynamics. Last year, a Dhaka court sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death for her role in suppressing protests. New Delhi's decision to grant her refuge has severely strained Bangladesh-India relations, creating an opening for China to expand its investment and political ties in the country.

When asked if a victory would signal a pivot from India toward China, Rahman emphasized economic growth for Bangladesh's 175 million people. "If we are in government, we must arrange employment for our youth. we must bring business to the country to create jobs so people can live better lives," he said.

On the Future of the Awami League
Regarding whether Sheikh Hasina’s children could return from abroad to enter politics, Rahman took a democratic stance:

Currently, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League is unable to participate in the upcoming national election due to a ban on its activities. Many senior leaders and family members fled the country shortly before or during her fall from power.