Bangladesh's PM-in-waiting dedicates win to those who 'sacrificed for democracy'

The success of BNP chief Rahman, 60, marks a remarkable turnaround for a man who only returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in exile in Britain, far from Dhaka’s political storms. His father, President Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated in 1981, while his mother, Khaleda Zia, served three terms as prime minister and dominated national politics for decades. “Freedom-loving pro-democracy people of the country have once again brought victory to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” he added, in an initial speech in English, before switching to Bangla. “This victory belongs to Bangladesh, belongs to democracy, this victory belongs to people who aspired to and have sacrificed for democracy,” he said. He said the new government he will lead faces daunting challenges. “We have paved the way for the establishment of democracy in the country,” he added. “We are about to begin our journey in a situation marked by a fragile economy left behind by an authoritarian regime, weakening constitutional and structural institutions and destroying law and order.”