Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has formally moved to contest the forthcoming general elections from two parliamentary segments—Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6. His decision comes just days after his return to Dhaka, ending a 17-year period spent outside the country.

Sources confirmed that Rahman submitted his application to be registered as a voter on December 27, shortly after his arrival. On the same day, he also completed formalities related to his nomination from the Dhaka-17 constituency, signalling a swift re-entry into frontline politics.

The Dhaka-17 seat was earlier represented by Awami League leader Mohammad A. Arafat, who served as a junior minister for information and broadcasting under Sheikh Hasina. Known for his sharp criticism of the BNP-Jamaat alliance, Arafat lost political ground following the collapse of the Hasina-led government. Subsequently, financial authorities ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to Arafat and his spouse, and several criminal cases were registered against him in connection with protest-related violence.

Rahman has also set his sights on Bogra-6, a constituency long associated with BNP politics and once considered a bastion of Khaleda Zia. The seat was captured by Awami League leader Ragebul Ahsan Ripu in the 2023 bypolls. However, Ripu’s position weakened dramatically after the change in government.

Within months of Sheikh Hasina’s exit, Ripu was detained by the Rapid Action Battalion as part of a broader crackdown on Awami League figures initiated under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. Authorities said Ripu faced multiple criminal charges, including serious offences such as murder, across several police jurisdictions in Bogra. While incarcerated, he reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest.

Tarique Rahman’s dual-seat bid is being viewed as a strategic move by the BNP as it seeks to reclaim political space ahead of the elections, with his return expected to energise party workers and reshape the electoral contest.