With the dramatic ousting of Sheikh Hasina from power, all eyes in Bangladesh are now on the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), the country’s main opposition group. The spotlight is particularly on the BNP’s top leaders, including former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who has been released from house arrest.
The political landscape is witnessing significant changes as Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, is set to return to Bangladesh. Another key BNP leader, Salahuddin Ahmed, is also expected to return soon. Ahmed, who has been residing in India since 2015, recently completed a one-year jail term for illegal entry into the country. Despite his release, he has opted to remain in India for the time being.
Ahmed, who has been living in Shillong, has stated that Khaleda Zia will require advanced medical treatment. “BNP wants all charges against her to be dropped. She would need advanced treatment and has to go abroad for it,” Salahuddin Ahmed said. He also highlighted that Zia has already received her renewed passport.
Reflecting on the recent upheaval, Salahuddin noted, “People of Bangladesh strongly believe that Sheikh Hasina left after being forced. Others were not lucky enough to survive. Luckily I am still alive. I have been ready to return since the first day.”
Salahuddin Ahmed’s journey began in 2015 when he arrived in Shillong, India, where he faced charges for illegal entry. He was acquitted in 2018, though the process was complicated by an appeal against his release. On February 28, 2024, a court in Shillong upheld the acquittal order, clearing the way for his potential return to Bangladesh.
The BNP, under Khaleda Zia’s leadership, is expected to call for a neutral general election and to push for the dropping of all charges against Zia. Salahuddin Ahmed criticized the previous administration, stating, “What happened to Hasina was her fate as she resorted to misrule for three consecutive terms with flawed elections and there was absence of rule of law. It was complete tyranny. The situation prevailing in Bangladesh is something like the mass revolution led by students.”
