The Pulse | Politics | South Asia

Was Tarique Rahman’s Youth Outreach More Than an Election Strategy?

The BNP’s credibility with Bangladesh’s youth will ultimately depend not on whether the government can deliver jobs, fair recruitment, and meaningful participation in state-building.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman meets with youth at Bangladesh Army Stadium in Dhaka, July 27, 2026.

After 17 years in exile, Tarique Rahman, then acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned to Dhaka on December 25, 2025. By then, people’s political aspirations had changed significantly through a mass uprising and political transition following a long period of authoritarian rule. 

In the aftermath of the July 2024 uprising, Bangladesh’s youth had moved to the center of politics. They not only led the movement that brought down Sheikh Hasina’s government, but also made up a significant portion of the electorate that would choose the next. The youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) emerged in the political arena; most of its leaders had been at the forefront of the July uprising. Ahead of the national election, Jamaat-e-Islami, in alliance with the NCP and several other Islamist parties, was mounting a political challenge.

Rahman and his party did not take long to recognize the reality. After returning home, he placed young people at the center of various programs, policy plans, and the party’s election manifesto. During the election campaign, several events were organized exclusively for the youth. At that time, analysts viewed them as part of the BNP’s strategy to attract young voters.

The formal campaign for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election began on January 22 this year. On that day, Rahman was in Sylhet, a city around 250 kilometers from Dhaka. He attended an event titled “The Plan: Youth Policy Talk with Tarique Rahman,” where several hundred students from different educational institutions heard the leader of the country’s largest political party explain his plans for nation-building. The students also shared their views and raised questions. Rahman responded to them and sought their suggestions. A similar event was later held in Chattogram. He also engaged directly with the youth through other programs.

The BNP’s election manifesto contained many promises for the youth. The party pledged to create 10 million new jobs within five years by attracting domestic and foreign investment. The government is now making efforts to bring in such investment. During recent visits to Malaysia and China, Rahman – now the prime minister – met executives of leading business organizations, and the government has repeatedly said that Bangladesh is open for investment. 

Law and order has improved since the BNP government took office on February 17, and the political environment has become relatively stable. However, the employment pledge faces structural constraints. Bangladesh’s unreliable energy supply has prevented hundreds of industrial units from beginning production, even after completing other preparations. Unless the government can improve energy security and infrastructure, investment-driven job creation will remain difficult.

Other BNP commitments included sending 10 million workers abroad, introducing unemployment benefits, involving young people in national development and state-building, providing freelancing and outsourcing training at higher education institutions, and offering small office spaces to young........

© The Diplomat