The acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman, has completed the process of registering for a National Identity Card (NID) and adding his name to the voter list upon his return to the country after 17 years of self-imposed exile. Rahman, who recently returned from London, visited the grave of extremist leader Osman Hadi before heading to the Election Building in Dhaka with party members to finalize his voter registration and obtain his national identity card.
According to ASM Humayun Kabir, Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing at the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC), Rahman is expected to receive his NID within 24 hours of completing the voter registration process. Kabir mentioned that Rahman had submitted the online form and provided his fingerprints and iris scan for verification, with the NID number likely to be generated within 5 to 24 hours if no discrepancies are found in the records.
Reports indicate that Rahman is planning to run as a candidate in the February 2026 elections from Bogra district’s Sadar constituency, where his family has roots, with his nomination papers already collected by local BNP leaders. Meanwhile, the Awami League has raised concerns about the legality of Rahman’s voter registration during the election schedule period, questioning the timing of the process on a government holiday and the adherence to regulations.
Rahman’s return to Bangladesh coincides with the announcement by the Election Commission of the country’s 13th national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12 next year. Analysts believe that his participation in the upcoming elections will be a significant test amid the political unrest in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which faces pressure to ensure a transparent and fair election process. Critics warn that Rahman’s reentry into Bangladesh’s political scene could escalate tensions nationwide.
