SAJJAD HOSSAIN

After returning to the country, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman is facing a series of challenges ahead of election as the party remains mired in allegations of indiscipline, wrongdoing and infighting.

Still, the party is hopeful, with leaders saying his return will help restore unity and discipline while grassroots workers are moving forward for the polls in a positive and festive spirit.

Party leaders and analysts say Tarique’s foremost task is to bring leaders and activists under a single command by reducing internal divisions, stopping infighting, restoring discipline, and ensuring party decisions are followed at all levels.

Ahead of the polls, he must also mobilise party members behind BNP-nominated candidates, prevent leaders from contesting against official nominees, and work to regain the trust of voters.

Tarique has been in Dhaka for only two days, during which his movements have drawn large crowds of party leaders and activists. Analysts say that in the days ahead, reaching ordinary voters directly and seeking their support will be crucial as the party moves toward the polls.

Within the party, this moment is widely seen as a test of Tarique’s leadership after his 17-year exile. Tarique guided the party virtually from London in those years.

Leaders warn that failure to strengthen the organisation could leave BNP facing difficult days ahead.

Political analysts say strengthening unity and improving the party’s image among voters will be Tarique’s biggest tests before the election.

Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, a former professor of government and politics at Jahangirnagar University, said Tarique had already expressed concern about the law and order situation after his return, which would make maintaining discipline among leaders and activists particularly difficult.

Masud said establishing a clear chain of command and keeping party members united would not be easy.

Tarique, he added, must take a firm stance to ensure leaders and activists follow party decisions and stay away from election violence.

“If party members get involved in violence or wrongdoing, the party’s image will suffer,” he said.

Analysts also point out that a section of BNP leaders and activists believe the party is close to coming to power, a perception that could encourage behaviour contrary to party interests at the grassroots level.

Preventing such actions, they say, will be another challenge.

Meanwhile, several leaders have announced plans to contest the election as rebel candidates, ignoring party decisions.

Party insiders say persuading them to accept official nominations and directives will be among Tarique’s toughest tasks.

After the August 5 changeover last year, allegations emerged that some leaders and activists were involved in activities violating party discipline.

On September 18, Tarique said that around 7,000 leaders and activists had been expelled for breaching party rules.

After his return, restoring discipline has become the central challenge, said Mohammad Mojibur Rahman, a professor at Dhaka University’s Institute of Education and Research.

He said if party members engage in wrongdoing while Tarique is present in the country, it would damage his reputation and give opponents an opportunity to criticise him.

BNP has also faced criticism over internal conflicts and extortion since the fall of the Awami League government in 2024.

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