BNP's Tareque Rahman eyes Dhaka return

There is more to the recent meeting between Bangladesh interim regime chief adviser Muhammad Yunus and BNP leader Tareque Rahman in London than meets the eye. Rahman is looking for a return to Dhaka to realise his prime ministerial dream.

Rahman seeks to return to Dhaka from his exile in London and is understood to have conveyed to Yunus his demand for removal of all terror cases against him, according to persons familiar with the meeting. Rahman cannot contest polls unless all cases are removed against him.

Rahman had allegedly backed anti-India terror groups and insurgents when his mother Begum Zia was Bangladesh PM from 2001-06. Often dubbed as the force behind the throne, the BNP leader has been associated with several activities that had cast a shadow over India-Bangladesh relations. ULFA leader Paresh Baruah, who was based in Bangladesh till 2008, was often patronised by Rahman in the past.