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Tarique Rahman senior Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is addressing to party’s grass root. Photo by Shamsul alam66 on

Top 10 Sensational Facts about Tarique Rahman

Tarique Rahman was born on 20 November 1964 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His ancestral home is in the village of Bagbari in Gabtali, Bogra District.

Belongs to a notable Bengali Muslim political family. His father was the 7th President of Bangladesh and his mother served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

He studied at BAF Shaheen College Dhaka and completed his SSC at Dhaka Residential Model College. He then earned his HSC from Adamjee Cantonment College.

A Bangladeshi politician who is the current acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) since February 2018. His political career as a primary member of the BNP Gabtali Upazila, Bogura District in 1988.

During the ruling of the Awami League government from 1996 to 2001, he mobilized movements against the actions of the government. He campaigned to address issues of economic deprivations.

He also started championing a countrywide consultation program. It aimed at publicizing the plight of the people living in rural areas.

1. Brought Up in a Notable Bengali Muslim Political Family

Tarique Rahman was raised in a notable Bengali political family. His father was the 7th President of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman. The mother served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia.

2. He Coordinated Election Campaigns in Five constituencies in which his Mother was Contesting

Tarique started his political career as a primary member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Gabtali Upazila, Bogura District in 1988. He assembled support for the party during the national elections of 1991.

Moreover, he was a member of the BNP’s National Campaign Strategy Committee. Rahman was also responsible for coordinating the election campaigns in five constituencies from which his mother Khaleda Zia was contesting.

3. Mobilized Movements against the Actions of the Government

Tarique Rahman mobilized against the actions of the Awami League government. The government ruled from 1996 to 2001.

He campaigned to address issues of economic deprivations. Moreover, he started championing a countrywide consultation program. The program aimed at publicizing the plight of the people living in rural areas.

The large-scale program drove mass mobilization against the government. This was the first program in the history of Bangladesh of this nature.

However, the program played an instrumental role in fostering the return of The BNP to power. In the national elections held in 2001, the party won a landslide victory with a two-thirds majority. Moreover, he established the secret ballot system in Bogra to elect leaders through an open council.

4. Tarique Denied to Assume a Position Within the Government

Tarique Rahman, Senior Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Photo by User: Shamsul alam66 on

After the victory of the BNP party during the national elections held in 2001, he had immense pressure from the party grassroots. As well as the national leadership. The Party won a landslide victory with a two-thirds majority.

Rahman was requested to assume a position within the government. However, he declined. He pledged to keep working within the Party

He was appointed as joint secretary General of BNP by its standing committee. This was in June 2002.

5. Rahman Launched a Grassroots Level Conference in every District of the Country

 After taking office as the Senior Joint General Secretary, he launched a program called Grassroots Level Conference in every district of the country. Moreover, he launched Divisional conferences and Upazila Conferences.

The Conferences were to help with information from the view of Party workers. Moreover, he attended hundreds of party meetings all over the country.

Furthermore, he signed response letters to various attendees at the meetings. These response letters contained regionally specific issues and discussions on how to address them.

6. He Contributed to Establishing Various Welfare Organisation

Rahman made contributions toward the establishment of Various Welfare Organisations in his country. He visited various parts of the country to motivate poor people to be self-reliant. This by establishing poultry, dairy and fish farm.

7. Tarique was the Prime Convict and Mastermind of the Terrorist Grenade Attack on a Public Rally

Tarique Rahman was the prime convict of the Mastermind of the 21 August 2004 terrorist grenade attack. The attack was on a public rally organized by the then-opposition party Awami league.

The attack used a military-grade Arges grenade. It targeted the entire top leadership of the Awami league including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It left 24 Awami League leaders and workers dead.

Moreover, the attack killed Ivy Rahman, President of the Women Awami League and wife of late President Zillur Rahman. Hundreds of victims and many became permanently crippled.

8. The Anti-Corruption Commission Filed 12 Cases against Him

Tarique Rahman senior Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is addressing to party’s grass root. Photo by Shamsul alam66 on

The Anti Corruption Commission filed 12 cases against Rahman. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed that the cases were politically motivated. Moreover, the party said added that the cases were filed as part of the conspiracy of the immediate past caretaker government to prevent Rahman from participating in Bangladesh politics.

 On 16 October 2009, the High Court issued a rule. It asked the government and the Anti Corruption Commission Bangladesh to explain why the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case against Rahman should not be quashed on a petition.

 On 9 November 2017, the Bangladesh Supreme Court dismissed Rahman’s petition seeking a stay on trial proceedings on the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

9. A Money Laundering Case was Submitted against Rahman

Rahman was accused of money laundering on 7 June 2007 together with his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun. The case was submitted by the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission at a court in Dhaka.

However, the Bangladesh Anti Corruption Commission member Mohammad Shahabuddin rejected the verdict. Bangladesh Nationalist Party officials and Leaders claimed that the judgement was proof of his innocence.

Nevertheless, on 21 July 2016, Rahman was found guilty by the Bangladesh High Court overturning a lower court verdict that acquitted him earlier. He was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment and fined Tk 20 crore by the Court.

The lower court judge fled the country. This after delivering the controversial not-guilty verdict.

10. Rahman called for a Boycott of the 2014 General Elections in Bangladesh

In uanuay 2014 Rahman called for a Boycott of the January 5 2014 General Elections in Bangladesh. He posted a video message on YouTube.

He said, “The time has come for all of us to prevent and boycott the 5 January polls. Not for personal interest but for the sake of the country’s existence.”