Bangladesh: Political Trends and Key Players - Observer Research ...

ORF Strategic Trends
Tarique is known to be the key election strategist for BNP. He is
believed to be the chief architect of BNP's landslide victory in the 2001
elections. Some media reports have claimed that in 1998 he
established a research wing for the party and drew expertise from
academics, professionals and business entrepreneurs, as well as
experienced politicians, in plotting the party's future.
In the last BNP government (2001-06), Tarique remained in the
limelight because of his powerful influence within the party. During
this period, Tarique travelled across the country and held grassrootslevel
conferences in every district which helped in uniting the party's
youth cadre. In fact, some of the media reports said Tarique was trying
to marginalise the party's old leaders in order to consolidate his control.
Tarique is a businessman by profession and known to be involved in the
textile and river transport sector. Tarique favours promoting investments
for industrialisation and development of the service and IT
sectors. He believes in the expansion of private sector.
He has had his own share of controversies. For instance, Tarique is
accused not only of corruption but also of encouraging cronyism.
During the BNP rule (2001-06), he was popularly referred to as 'Mr.
Ten Percent' for allegedly cornering commissions in government deals.
He is said to have siphoned off large amounts of wealth outside the
country. Tarique was arrested on charges of corruption in March 2007
during the reign of the military-backed caretaker. There are also
allegations of Tarique's involvement with militant organsiations like
Harkat ul Jihad al-Islami. Some media reports claimed that HuJI
commander, Mufti Hanan, had confessed that Tarique Rahman and
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