Rahman, 60, is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, one of two major political parties in the South Asian nation of more than 170 million people. His return is seen as politically significant ahead of the next election set for Feb. 12 under the current interim government.

A once-banned Bangladeshi Islamist party, poised for its strongest electoral showing in February's parliamentary vote, is open to joining a unity government and has held talks with several parties, its chief told Reuters on Wednesday.

Smoke engulfs the office building of Prothom Alo, a leading Bangladeshi newspaper, after rightwing mobs set in on fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on the night of Dec. 18-19, 2025.

Newspaper buildings were set on fire after the death of an activist who was attacked recently. Political leaders fear more violence could derail attempts to restore democracy.

Bangladesh was rocked by violent protests in several cities after the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi late on Thursday, with concerns of further unrest ahead of national elections.

Bangladesh witnessed yet another attack on a Hindu man on 31 December, as concerns mount over escalating violence against religious minorities in the country. Khokon Das, 50, was allegedly assaulted with sharp weapons by a mob,

Bangladesh will introduce postal ballots for the first time in its 2026 election, enhancing voting access for 1.2 million citizens.

In office for three terms, she traded the country’s leadership with Sheikh Hasina, the head of another political dynasty, over decades. She was believed to be 80.