With its main rival absent, many speculate the BNP will have a comfortable lead in the election – and if the party wins, Rahman, 58, is expected to be the next prime minister. His mother, former PM Khaleda Zia, who is 80, is ill and unlikely to take an active part in the campaign.
However, Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party, has seemingly gained some ground over the last year. Its student wing won majorities in two public university student union elections for the first time, energising the party.
Rahman thinks the results of the student union won’t have an implication for the general election. Their proportion of votes in previous elections was much smaller compared to the two major parties.
Jamaat-e-Islami is now in talks with some other Islamist political parties to form an alliance, but Rahman says he is not worried about this prospect.
“The BNP faced competition in the election before. There is nothing to be worried about,” he said.
In the early 2000s, the BNP and Jamaat formed a coalition government, but have recently pursued independent paths.
Meanwhile, a new party led by student leaders of the uprising, the National Citizen’s Party (NCP), failed to gain much support in the student union elections. For a youth-led party, losing on their home turf has raised questions about their prospects in the national election.