Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expressed confidence in his party’s victory in the upcoming national elections, asserting that BNP is positioned to form the government independently. Speaking to the UK-based Financial Times, Rahman said he would soon return from London to contest in the elections, emphasizing that the student-led uprising will not be complete until Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule ends and a free, fair election is held. He welcomed young activists into politics, promising a diversified economy through initiatives such as making Bangladesh a supply hub for global e-commerce firms like Amazon and Alibaba. Rahman criticized Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule for corruption and suppression of dissent, including extrajudicial killings. He pledged that a BNP government would break the cycle of political vengeance and continue efforts to recover alleged misappropriated funds. The BNP leader also stressed a “Bangladesh first” foreign policy toward India.