Tarique Rahman Sets Eyes on Elections After Voter Registration and NID Acquisition

Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has officially finalized his voter registration and obtained his National Identity (NID) card in Dhaka. This marks a key moment following his return to Bangladesh after spending more than 17 years in self-imposed exile in London.

The 60-year-old BNP leader visited the Election Commission office, where he completed the biometric process, which included fingerprinting and iris scanning, all under strict security measures. On the same day, his daughter, Zaima Rahman, also registered to vote.

Before this visit, Rahman had already submitted his application for voter registration online. Election Commission officials indicated that his NID card is expected to be ready within 24 hours post-biometric enrollment.

In 2008, Bangladesh implemented a voter list inclusive of photographs and biometric data during a military-backed caretaker government after the political unrest of 2007-2008. At that time, Rahman was imprisoned and subsequently went abroad, which excluded him from the new voter list.

With the general elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, Rahman is anticipated to contest from his ancestral constituency, Bogura Sadar (Bogura-6). Earlier this month, BNP leaders collected his nomination papers on his behalf.

Nonetheless, the ruling Awami League has questioned the validity of his voter registration, claiming that the final voters' list was already established and expressing concerns regarding the timing of his registration, which allegedly took place on a public holiday. The party has also suggested procedural irregularities regarding his registration.

Despite these allegations, Election Commission officials affirmed that according to the law, all eligible citizens are permitted to register at any time leading up to the elections.

Increased security was present at the Election Commission during Rahman's registration, with forces from the Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar, and police ensuring safety and order.

Rahman's active political return and his registration as a voter signify an important leap for Bangladesh as it braces for its next national election.