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FalseNews · Politics

No, Tarique Rahman Is Not Bangladesh's 11th Prime Minister — He Has Never Held the Office

“Tarique Rahman is Bangladesh's 11th prime minister”

The argument in brief

A claim circulating online says Tarique Rahman is Bangladesh's 11th Prime Minister. This is false. Tarique Rahman is the Acting Chairman of the BNP opposition party and has been living in exile in London since 2008 — he holds no government office. After Sheikh Hasina resigned in August 2024, it was Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus who was appointed head of Bangladesh's interim government.

Why it spread

Tarique Rahman is a genuinely powerful and well-known figure in Bangladeshi politics, and his party BNP was a major force behind the protests that toppled Sheikh Hasina. With so much change happening so fast in mid-2024, it was easy for people to assume that BNP's leader must have taken power — especially those following events from abroad or through social media rather than verified news sources.

The claim that Tarique Rahman is Bangladesh's 11th Prime Minister is false. Rahman has never served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh at any point in the country's history. He is a senior opposition figure, not a government leader.

According to Bangladesh Nationalist Party official records, Rahman serves as the Acting Chairman of the BNP — an opposition party, not the ruling government. His role is as a party leader, not a head of state or government. These are very different things.

Wikipedia's verified list of Bangladesh's Prime Ministers does not include Tarique Rahman's name anywhere. The most recent major political change came in August 2024, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned amid mass protests. Reuters and BBC News both confirmed that Muhammad Yunus — not Rahman — was then appointed Chief Adviser of the country's interim government.

Rahman has actually been living in self-imposed exile in London since 2008, facing legal cases back home. BBC News notes he is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, which gives him a prominent political name — but a famous political family does not make someone a prime minister.

This kind of misinformation tends to travel fast when a country is going through political upheaval. When governments fall and new ones form quickly, rumors about who is in charge can outpace the facts. If you see a claim about a political appointment, the fastest check is a country's official government website or a wire service like Reuters or AP — both will name the actual officeholder within hours of any real change.

Sources

  • Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Official Records

    Tarique Rahman is the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and has never served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

  • Wikipedia - List of Prime Ministers of Bangladesh

    The list of Bangladesh's Prime Ministers does not include Tarique Rahman. As of 2024, Muhammad Yunus serves as Chief Adviser of the interim government, not as Prime Minister.

  • Reuters - Bangladesh Political Coverage

    Following Sheikh Hasina's resignation in August 2024, Muhammad Yunus was appointed head of Bangladesh's interim government. Tarique Rahman remains in exile in London and holds no governmental office.

  • BBC News - Bangladesh

    Tarique Rahman, son of former PM Khaleda Zia, is the de facto leader of BNP living in exile in the UK. He has not been appointed or served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

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