Time magazine, the US-based influential publication, released a detailed feature on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, focusing on Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh after 17 years of exile. The report highlights his determination to re-engage in politics despite physical weakness and the recent death of his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. In his first interview since returning home, Rahman stated that he cannot avoid responsibility and that public trust keeps him in politics. He emphasized that his political role stems from party supporters rather than family legacy.

According to the report, Rahman is currently the leading candidate in the upcoming February 12 national election, with polls showing around 70 percent voter support for his BNP compared to 19 percent for Jamaat-e-Islami. The 3,300-word feature also analyzes Bangladesh’s economic and social challenges, including high inflation, currency weakness, foreign reserve shortages, and youth unemployment. Time describes Rahman as a “technocratic” politician with plans for canal excavation, tree planting, green zones in Dhaka, waste-to-energy projects, and public-private health partnerships.

The report further discusses Bangladesh’s political transition following Sheikh Hasina’s fall, noting incomplete interim government reforms and uncertainty about the country’s post-election direction.