Tarique Rahman, who won Bangladesh's 2026 election, is the son of which late former Prime Minister?

Tarique Rahman, who recently assumed the role of Prime Minister of Bangladesh following the 2026 election, is indeed the son of the late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. This familial connection highlights a prominent political dynasty within Bangladesh, as both mother and son have led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and served at the country's highest political office.

Khaleda Zia was a formidable figure in Bangladeshi politics, serving three terms as Prime Minister: from 1991 to 1996, briefly in 1996, and again from 2001 to 2006. She made history as the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and the second in the Muslim world. Her political journey began after the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. She then led the party as chairperson from 1984 until her death in December 2025.

Tarique Rahman's political career has been deeply intertwined with his mother's legacy and the BNP. He became the Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in January 2026, shortly after his mother's passing. After years of self-imposed exile, he returned to Bangladesh in December 2025 to lead the party. His recent victory in the 2026 general election, where the BNP secured a landslide, saw him sworn in as Prime Minister on February 17, 2026, continuing his family's significant influence on the nation's political landscape.